Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023
by Frans Lytzen | 04/01/2024🚀 Insights from Microsoft's 2023 Digital Defense Report 🌐🔐
Microsoft recently unveiled their 2023 Digital Defense Report, a treasure trove of information on cybersecurity trends. 📊💡 While it might not be the quickest read (it's over 100 pages!), it's worth at least a glance.
One thing that always surprises me is how deeply Microsoft is committed to safeguarding the digital world. 🛡️ From tracking nation-state threat actors to dismantling hacking groups and contributing to election integrity, their involvement goes way beyond securing Azure and M365.
💡 As someone who's all about Azure and Application Development, here are my key takeaways:
- Back to Basics - Your Best Allies 🔑
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) everywhere (it slashes attacks by 99%, according to the report).
- Keep your systems updated (think Dependabot and PaaS instead of VMs). Check out NewOrbit's Minimum Recommended Practice for PaaS Security.
- Security: A Proactive Mindset 🤝Security isn't an afterthought. Gone are the days of just slapping on a firewall or running a pen test. Take a holistic approach - reduce your permissions, activate MFA, and leverage AD PII to spot and thwart suspicious logins. If you're unsure where to start, consider an initial, concise security review.
Hacking's Business Evolution 💼
Hacking is evolving into a full-blown industry, complete with supply chains. The report delves into "cybercrime-as-a-service" and even mentions cyber mercenaries partnering with nation states. Scary, right? Here's the kicker - attackers don't need to be tech geniuses; they can rent the skills they lack, often for a bargain.
- AI: A Double-Edged Sword 🤖🗡️AI is being actively used by both attackers and defenders - it is a rapidly escalating arms race. Simultaneously, the addition of Large Language Models as ways to interact with existing software adds a whole new class of vulnerabilities.
