Microsoft CEO to give testimony regarding security deficiencies
The President of Microsoft, Brad Smith, will appear in front of a panel in the US House of Representatives focused on national security to answer inquiries about the company’s security protocols following incursions by Russian and Chinese hackers into its systems within the last year.
Hackers associated with China stole 60,000 emails from the US State Department last year by breaching the systems of the technology behemoth, while a Russian organization monitored the emails of Microsoft’s top executives earlier this year, as per the information disclosed by the company.
In a harsh evaluation in April, the Cyber Safety Review Board – established by the US Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas – criticized Microsoft for its lack of openness regarding the Chinese breach, which the board claimed could have been prevented.
The largest software company globally, which plays a crucial role as a provider to the US government and the national security sector, has faced similar disapproval from its peers in the security industry.
Legislators will scrutinize Microsoft’s security deficiencies, the hurdles in ensuring protection against cyber assaults, and the strategies to enhance its security mechanisms, as stated by the House panel on national security in an earlier declaration.
They will also talk about the discoveries and suggestions from the board’s assessment post the Chinese breach.
“Considering that this is not the first instance of Microsoft falling victim to an avoidable cyberattack, and given the CSRB’s assessment, it is now incumbent upon Congress to assess Microsoft’s handling of this evaluation,” Congressman Mark Green from Mississippi will mention to Smith during the session, according to the details of his initial remarks spotted by Reuters.
“Mr. Smith, being a prominent, long-time figure within Microsoft, we expect you to elucidate the shortcomings that facilitated these recent cyber penetrations.”
In light of the criticisms from the board, Microsoft declared that they were in the process of enhancing their procedures and implementing security standards. In November, they introduced a fresh cybersecurity initiative aimed at being prepared for the “escalating scale and significant stakes of cyberattacks.”
“We are prioritizing security above all else at Microsoft, placing it above any other feature,” the company announced during that time.
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