As digital threats continue to evolve, it is increasingly apparent that organizations need robust cybersecurity measures to protect their financial stability, brand, and operational integrity.
The latest Microsoft Digital Defense Report states that 80 percent of organizations have attack paths that expose critical assets. Furthermore, Microsoft has observed a 2.75x increase year over year in ransomware attacks among our customers.
Cyber-enabled financial fraud is also rising globally. According to our report, the daily traffic volume for Tech scams – a type of fraud that tricks users by impersonating legitimate services or using fake tech support and ads – has skyrocketed by 400 per cent since 2022. This is a stark contrast to the 180 per cent increase in malware and 30 per cent in phishing over the same period.
Microsoft is committed to helping organizations meet this growing challenge with a suite of integrated technologies and services designed to let customers operate with confidence.
Microsoft Unified services and the role of Microsoft IR (incident response) Microsoft IR is backed by our elite Detection and Response Team (DART) and is an essential component of Microsoft’s overall cybersecurity offering for customers.
This team consists of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals with extensive backgrounds in threat hunting and intelligence, digital forensics and tactical recovery, with experience in handling both proactive and reactive incident response. DART’s approach is twofold: it focuses on immediate incident response and pre-emptive measures to prevent security breaches before they occur.
- Proactive measures: Microsoft IR, backed by DART, conducts comprehensive assessments of organizational security infrastructures, seeking out vulnerabilities and potential threats. By evaluating the security readiness of identity and endpoint management systems, our DART experts provide customized recommendations to enhance security measures.
- Reactive strategies: In the event of a cybersecurity incident, DART’s response is swift and effective. The team engages directly with the threat, isolating affected systems to prevent further damage while conducting a thorough analysis to identify the source and nature of the attack. Recovery processes are implemented to restore integrity to the systems and data affected. Throughout the cybersecurity response, our DART experts provide continuous support and updates to ensure stakeholders are informed and prepared for necessary actions.
This comprehensive approach is supported by Microsoft’s vast threat intelligence, which analyses 78 trillion security signals daily, and state-of-the-art technologies. That includes proprietary tools and widely recognized solutions such as the Microsoft Defender suite and Microsoft Sentinel.
The depth of expertise within DART ensures it is equipped to manage complex cyber threats efficiently, making the team a trusted and vital component of our cybersecurity offering.
Expanding Microsoft Unified’s cybersecurity offering
Recognizing the critical need for rapid and robust incident management, Microsoft IR, our Cybersecurity Incident Response (CIR) service, is being offered through Microsoft Unified.
This offering provides access to our global network of cybersecurity experts, who offer onsite and remote support, ensuring comprehensive coverage and swift action.
Our CIR offering also integrates seamlessly with our broader Microsoft Unified framework.
- Initial contact: Our Unified team serves as the first line of contact for triage and validation of suspected cybersecurity incidents, providing timely and efficient incident isolation and remediation.
- Escalated response: When an incident escalates beyond initial containment, our CIR team takes comprehensive control, ensuring extensive investigation, containment, and recovery.
The suite of services that make up CIR includes prioritized response times, with DART experts available within two hours to address security incidents. It also includes comprehensive services ranging from threat investigation, digital forensics, and malware analysis to complete recovery and remediation efforts.
Organizations can also access proactive compromise assessments that delve deep into their environments to unearth vulnerabilities, potential indicators of compromise, potential attack vectors, and inform roadmaps to bolster their defenses. These services are complemented by regular threat intelligence briefings tailored to specific industry and geographical threats to keep organizations informed and prepared.
Engage with Microsoft Unified
Microsoft Unified provides an indispensable resource for organizations aiming to enhance their cybersecurity readiness. We integrate proactive assessments with rapid, effective incident response capabilities to equip businesses with the necessary tools and expertise to confront and mitigate cyber threats.
To learn more about how Microsoft can help protect your organization from cyber threats, visit our Microsoft Unified page.
To learn more about Microsoft IR (incident response), please visit Microsoft Incident Response page.
Updated Jan 29, 2025
Version 6.0Zophar
Microsoft
Joined July 24, 2024
Microsoft Security Experts Blog
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