Windows 10 sets new standard for security

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As we continue our move to a mobile-first, cloud-first world, data security has been more important than ever. Today’s security threat landscape is one of aggressive and tenacious threats. In previous years, malicious attackers mostly focused on gaining community recognition through their attacks or the thrill of temporarily taking a system offline. Since then, attacker’s motives have shifted toward making money, including holding devices and data hostage until the owner pays the demanded ransom. Modern attacks increasingly focus on large-scale intellectual property theft; targeted system degradation that can result in financial loss; and now even cyberterrorism that threatens the security of individuals, businesses, and national interests all over the world. These attackers are typically highly trained individuals and security experts, some of whom are in the employ of nation states that have large budgets and seemingly unlimited human resources. Threats like these require an approach that can meet this challenge.
Security breaches can take 200+ days to detect and industry experts predict there will be over two million new malware apps by the end of the year. These are clear driving factors for governments and business leaders to improve cybersecurity and seek a secure platform.

Windows 10 sets the security standard

Windows 10 looks to be the most secure Windows system to date. At the forefront of this security is Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP). ATP wasn’t just built with the intention of detecting and responding to attacks. Instead it was also designed to provide preventive protection using new next generation approaches that in the past have often been too difficult to engineer or use.
Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) includes seamless integration across the entire Windows threat protection stack to protect, detect, and respond with rich, centralized management. In addition, Windows Defender ATP extends protection to Windows Server OS to protect customers across platforms. New features and capabilities in the suite include Windows Defender Exploit Guard, Windows Defender Application Guard and substantial updates to Windows Defender Device Guard and Windows Defender Antivirus.

The trusted platform of governments

Large enterprises are no strangers to security threats. Their size and complexity make them prime targets of cyber criminals. This why enterprise leaders know the importance of securing
their baseline system. One of the largest enterprises anywhere – the US Department of Defense (DoD) – has joined other enterprise customers like NASCAR, Emirates, and Bank of China as it adopts Windows 10.
All DoD agencies will begin the rapid deployment of Microsoft Windows 10 throughout their respective organizations for information systems currently utilizing Microsoft Operating Systems. From laptops to desktops to mobile devices, including Surface devices, the DoD is targeting its Windows 10 upgrade for completion in a year, an unprecedented move for a customer with the size and complexity of the DoD. The DoD spends approximately $38 billion annually on cybersecurity and IT. They needed to deploy innovation faster to ensure systems are more secure, more efficient and cost-effective, and standardized on one platform. Windows 10 was deployed to improve the Department’s cybersecurity, lower the cost of IT and streamline the IT operating environment.

 

Similarly, the Australian Health Department (AHD) achieved full Windows 10 deployment for its 35,000 employees in less than a year.

The importance of security

Windows 10 has been certified as meeting specific government criteria and standards. As reported last February 2016, the National Information Assurance Program, the arm of the US government responsible for evaluating commercial IT products for use in National Security Systems has certified Windows 10 against the Mobile Device Fundamentals Common Criteria protection profile. Additionally, Microsoft’s Surface family of devices have been certified and are available through the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Unified Capabilities Approved Products List and can be easily worked into deployment plans. This means that Surface has met the strict security and interoperability requirements required by the DoD. Companies like NASCAR, Emirates Airlines, BMW Group, Bank of China, in addition to Government institutions like the US DoD and the AHD, have all adopted Windows 10. This is a strong testament to Microsoft’s commitment to making Windows 10 the most secure Windows ever.

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About Microsoft

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