Forrester names Microsoft a Leader in the 2023 Zero Trust Platform Providers Wave™ report

Microsoft is proud to be recognized as a Leader in the Forrester Wave™: Zero Trust Platform Providers, Q3 2023 report. At Microsoft, we understand modernizing security is a complex task in this era of ever-evolving cyberthreats and complex digital environments. Serious threats have necessitated a paradigm shift in how organizations protect their digital estates. That’s why Microsoft embraces an end-to-end Zero Trust architecture: a comprehensive approach to security that helps our customers effectively mitigate business risk in the era of hybrid and remote work.

Microsoft’s leadership

Zero Trust has become the industry standard for securing complex, highly distributed digital estates. And Microsoft is in a unique position to help customers with their security needs, as Microsoft delivers end-to-end cross-cloud, cross-platform security solutions, which integrate more than 50 different categories across security, compliance, identity, device management, and privacy, informed by more than 65 trillion threat signals we see each day. Microsoft is actively engaged with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), most recently providing public commentary for the NIST National Cybersecurity Center of Excellence (NCCoE) and participating in The Open Group where we co-chaired the Zero Trust Architecture (ZTE) forum. As we look to the future, Microsoft recognizes that customers are entering the era of AI. And by combining the principles of Zero Trust with the capabilities of AI, organizations will have the potential to create a formidable defense against modern cyberthreats. In this blog, we will explore Forrester’s latest evaluation of the Microsoft end-to-end Zero Trust architecture and what the future will hold by leveraging the power of AI.

Forrester Wave™: Zero Trust Platforms report

See why Forrester recognizes Microsoft as a Leader in Zero Trust.

Read the report 

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Comprehensive end-to-end protection

Its Copilot theme carries over to a notable vision to provide end-to-end, step-by-step guidance for implementing ZT while leveraging AI. This means customer can take their ZT journey with Microsoft in lockstep.Forrester Wave™: Zero Trust Platforms, Q3 2023 report

We are proud that the Microsoft Zero Trust platform has been recognized as a Leader in the Forrester Wave™: Zero Trust Platforms, Q3 2023 report, which we believe demonstrates Microsoft’s strong track record for being a comprehensive end-to-end platform.

Forrester Wave™: Zero Trust Platform Providers, Q3 2023 report

The Forrester Wave™ report evaluates Zero Trust platforms based on criteria that include network security, centralized management and usability, data security, device security, automation, orchestration, people, and identity security—along with both on-premises and cloud deployments. In the latest evaluation for Q3 2023, the Microsoft end-to-end Zero Trust architecture has demonstrated its excellence in these areas by being named a Leader in this inaugural Forrester Wave™ report evaluating Zero Trust Platform Providers. The Microsoft end-to-end Zero Trust model received the highest possible score in the following categories based on the Forrester analyst criteria: people and identity security, device security, enabling and protecting the hybrid workforce, data security, automation and orchestration, visibility, and analytics.

Zero Trust in the age of AI

In an era where AI is rapidly transforming how we work, its convergence with cybersecurity brings both immense opportunities and new challenges. Here’s why Zero Trust becomes even more crucial:

  1. Sophistication of threats: As cyberattacks have become more sophisticated and capable of evading traditional security measures, Zero Trust, with its emphasis on continuous verification, explicit verification, and least privileged access, offers a more effective defense against these advanced threats with or without AI capabilities.
  2. Data protection and privacy: AI relies on vast amounts of customers’ data to help the user be more productive, and safeguarding this data is paramount. Zero Trust’s data-centric approach ensures that access to sensitive data is highly controlled, mitigating the risk of unauthorized AI-driven breaches.
  3. Automated responses: AI-enabled security can provide rapid automated responses to threats. When integrated with Zero Trust, AI-driven responses become even more effective by improving alert fatigue, adapting access controls in real-time, minimizing damage, and containing potential breaches.

Looking to the future

Microsoft’s leadership in Zero Trust, as shown by the latest Forrester Wave™, highlights our commitment to continuously evolving cybersecurity to meet the security demands of the digital age. With AI becoming a cornerstone of modern threats and defenses, the Zero Trust principles of assume breach, least privileged access, and continual explicit verification are more crucial than ever. As organizations navigate the evolving landscape of cyberthreats, the synergy between Microsoft’s end-to-end Zero Trust strategy and the capability of AI provides a formidable defense mechanism that is both forward-looking and resilient.

For more information on this recognition, check out the full Forrester Wave™: Zero Trust Platforms, Q3 2023 report. 

Learn more


To learn more about Microsoft Security solutions, visit our website. Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us on LinkedIn (Microsoft Security) and Twitter (@MSFTSecurity) for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.

The Forrester Wave™ is copyrighted by Forrester Research, Inc. Forrester and Forrester Wave™ are trademarks of Forrester Research, Inc. The Forrester Wave™ is a graphical representation of Forrester’s call on a market and is plotted using a detailed spreadsheet with exposed scores, weightings, and comments. Forrester does not endorse any vendor, product, or service depicted in the Forrester Wave™. Information is based on best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change.

Forrester Wave™: Zero Trust Platform Providers, Q3 2023, Carlos Rivera and Heath Mullins, September 19th, 2023

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New security features in Windows 11 protect users and empower IT

While attacks are getting more sophisticated, so are our defenses. With recent innovations like secured-core PCs that are 60 percent more resilient to malware than non-secured-core PCs,1 and the Microsoft Pluton Security Processor that adds more protection by isolating sensitive data like credentials and encryption keys, Windows 11 has elevated the security bar for all. Our goal is to protect organizations by simplifying security, building in stronger protections from the chip to the cloud.

From more secure and easy-to-use authentication with multifactor authentication to adding extra layers of protection for applications and data, we’ve simplified and enabled more security features by default than ever before with Windows 11. These features are designed to help stop attacks we’re seeing now as well the more sophisticated and targeted attacks that we expect to become more mainstream in the future. We have also begun to adopt memory-safe languages like Rust, starting with using Rust code for two traditional attack targets—Font Parsing and Win32k Kernel.

When we launched Windows 11 it came with new hardware and software features like secure boot, virtualization-based security, hypervisor-protected code integrity, and Windows Hello using the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) on by default in many regions. Since turning those features on, organizations have reported a 58 percent reduction in security incidents, and a three times reduction in firmware attacks—a highly attractive and lucrative target for attackers. Our data shows that 83 percent of Windows 11 devices use three or more security features. 

We’re excited to take the next step on this journey with updates for security and IT professionals available today and on by default for new installs of Windows 11.

New Windows 11 security features

Windows 11 features give you the power to create, collaborate, and keep your stuff protected.

Learn more 

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The next step towards eliminating passwords entirely

Microsoft global threat intelligence processes more than 65 trillion security signals every day. That intel has shown us there are more than 4,000 password attacks every second.2 Everyday cybercriminals as well as nation-state attackers like Peach Sandstorm are leveraging password spray attacks to compromise high-value targets in sectors like satellite, defense, and pharmaceuticals. Organizations can reduce their risk of compromise to these kinds of attacks with Windows passwordless authentication and multifactor authentication features that offer more protection than traditional passwords.

Passkeys make passwordless easier and more universal: Windows 11 will make it much harder for hackers who exploit stolen passwords through phishing attacks by empowering users to replace passwords with passkeys. Passkeys are the cross-platform future of secure sign-in management. Microsoft and other technology leaders are promoting passkeys as part of the FIDO Alliance. A passkey creates a unique, unguessable cryptographic credential that is securely stored on your device. Instead of using a username and password to access a website or application, Windows 11 users will be able to use and protect passkeys using Windows Hello or Windows Hello for Business, or their phone. This will allow users to access the site or app using their face, fingerprint, or device PIN. Passkeys on Windows 11 will work on multiple browsers including Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Firefox, and others. Setting up a passkey in Windows is accomplished by:

  • The website or application owner creates a passkey and offers it to you as a sign-in option instead of your password—website and app owners will need to develop their own passkeys infrastructure on their sign-in experience.
  • Once you create the passkey on your device, the next time you sign in to that website or app from your device it will recognize that you have its passkey, and you can use it instead of a password. If you are using Windows Hello or Windows Hello for Business, you will be able to use your face, PIN, or fingerprint to sign in more easily. In addition, you can now use a passkey from your phone or tablet to complete the sign-in process.
  • Users will have a management dashboard through Settings –> Accounts –> Passkeys to see and manage passkeys on their Windows 11 device.

Simplifying and modernizing security for IT by reducing the attack surface 

The latest Windows 11 will also include powerful new tools that enable IT teams to keep their organizations and employees more secure. We’re improving authentication, making it easier for IT to lock down and maintain policy configurations, adding more controls through Intune.

Phish-resistant credentials with Windows Hello for Business Passwordless: Windows 11 devices with Windows Hello for Business or FIDO2 security keys can protect user identities by removing the need to use passwords from day one. IT can now set a policy for Microsoft Entra ID-joined machines, so users no longer see the option to enter a password when accessing company resources. Once the policy is set, it will remove passwords from the Windows user experience, both for device unlock as well as in-session authentication scenarios. With this change, users can now navigate through their core authentication scenarios using strong, phish-resistant credentials like Windows Hello for Business or FIDO2 security keys. If ever necessary, users can leverage recovery mechanisms such as Windows Hello for Business PIN reset or web sign-in. Web sign-in is now available for all supported Microsoft Entra ID authentication mechanisms in addition to Temporary Access Pass (TAP) and education scenarios.

Maintain IT policy control with Config Refresh: Config Refresh is designed to revert policies to a secured state if they’ve been tampered with by potentially unwanted applications or user tampering with the registry. Config Refresh allows Windows 11 devices to be reset every 90 minutes by default, or every 30 minutes if desired, within the policy configuration service provider (CSP). This capability ensures that your settings are retained in the way IT configured them. The policy CSP covers hundreds of settings that were traditionally set with Group Policy and does so through Mobile Device Management, like Microsoft Intune. To enable help desk technicians to support their teams more efficiently Config Refresh can also be paused by IT administrators for a configurable period of time, after which it will be automatically re-enabled. It can also be turned back on at any time by an IT administrator. Starting today, Config Refresh is available to our Insiders and coming soon to all organizations.

Only allow trusted apps with Custom App Control: Applications are the lifeblood of our digital experiences, but they can also become entry points for attackers. With application control, only approved and trusted apps are allowed onto devices. By controlling unwanted or malicious code from running, application control is a critical part of an overall security strategy. Application control is often cited as one of the most effective means of defending against malware. Organizations using Windows 10 and above use App Control for Business (formerly called Windows Defender Application Control) and its next-generation capabilities to protect their digital estate from malicious code. Organizations using Microsoft Intune to manage their devices are now able to configure App Control for Business in the admin console, including setting up Intune as a managed installer.

New configurations in Windows Firewall: We are excited to announce some enhanced management and capabilities for the built-in Windows Firewall to help IT provide better overall protection. Windows Firewall now supports:

  • Application Control for Business (previously known as Windows Defender Application Control) app ID tagging with Windows Firewall rules though Intune. This enables IT to target Windows Firewall rules to specific applications without an absolute file path. 
  • The ability to configure network list manager settings to determine when a Microsoft Entra ID (previously known as Azure Active Directory) device is on your on-premises domain subnets so firewall rules can properly apply. The network list manager settings for Windows Firewall can be used for location awareness. 
  • There is now better support in settings to configure more granular Windows Firewall logging for domain, private, and public firewall profiles, as well as the ability to specify Windows Firewall inbound and outbound rules for ICMP types and codes.

Our continued investment in security and innovation

Our MORSE team, Microsoft Offensive Research and Security Engineering, has been working hard to ensure security is a critical piece of the software development lifecycle. In the last year, the team has dedicated 1.9 million virtual machine hours and more than 84,000 Azure CPU cores dedicated to proactively fuzzing code. In addition to that, we’ve made nearly 700 improvements in our code just the last few months by strengthening the software development lifecycle with security checks and balances, including new automation and AI to help developers find bugs on their own. The proactive work of this team to continue to improve the integrity of our code both old and new is part of our commitment to ongoing investment and innovation in security. The team has released learnings and tools to the community as well like our open source fuzzing tool, Microsoft OneFuzz.

We’re looking forward to continuing this journey to make Windows more secure from the chip to the cloud with every update.

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Identity hunting with an enhanced IdentityInfo table

by Or Tsemah

Advanced hunting with an enhanced IdentityInfo table

Back in June 2023, we announced the enhanced IdentityInfo table in Microsoft 365 advanced hunting for Microsoft Defender for Identity customers. Today, we are expanding the availability of this table for all Microsoft defender for Cloud apps customers as part of our journey to enable this experience for all Microsoft 365 Defender customers.

thumbnail image 1 of blog post titled Identity hunting with an enhanced IdentityInfo table

What do I get?

With this new table, security analysts have much broader experience with identity-based hunting, allowing them to query more attributes from all detected providers, such as Entra ID assigned roles or Defender for Identity Sensitivity tags for on-premises Active Directory identities, to further enhance their experience and create new powerful queries and custom detections.

Do I need to do anything?

No, the new updated table will appear for all Defender for Identity and cloud apps automatically.

Where can I learn more?

You can view the updated schema details here.

What’s next?

We are constantly working on expanding the available schema with more attributes, stay tuned.

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Basic cyber hygiene prevents 98% of attacks

by Quy Nguyen

In today’s digital era, businesses rely heavily on technology and online systems. To help safeguard against cyber threats and ensure business continuity, maintaining basic cyber hygiene is imperative. Adhering to basic security hygiene can protect against 98% of attacks.1

thumbnail image 1 of blog post titled Basic cyber hygiene prevents 98% of attacks

Here are five key standards every organization should adopt:

  1. Require phishing-resistant multifactor authentication (MFA):
    • Enable MFA to help prevent 99.9% of attacks on your accounts.2
    • Opt for MFA options with minimal user friction, like biometrics or FIDO2 compliant factors such as Feitan or Yubico security keys.
    • Use conditional access policies and single sign-on (SSO) to streamline the user experience.
  2. Apply Zero Trust principles:
    • Implement a Zero Trust approach to security, verifying every transaction, asserting least-privilege access, and relying on intelligence, advance detection, and real-time response to threats.
  3. Use modern anti-malware:
    • Deploy extended detection and response and anti-malware solutions to help detect threats, automatically block attacks, and provide actionable insights.
    • Leverage security automation and orchestration to streamline threat detection and response.
  4. Keep systems up to date:
    • Unpatched and out of date systems can lead to increased risk. Regularly update firmware, operating systems, and applications to reduce vulnerabilities.
  5. Protect data:
    • Understand your data landscape, label and classify sensitive data, and establish access controls.
    • Address insider risks using the right people, processes, training, and tools to help take into account user context around data.
    • Ensure the proper access controls are in place to help prevent data loss while managing data throughout its lifecycle.

In today’s threat environment, meeting the minimum standards for cybersecurity hygiene is essential and these five pillars can help offer strong protection and reduce risk.

Learn more in the guide Basic cyber hygiene prevents 98% of attacks and visit Security Insider to get more threat intelligence insights.

12022 Microsoft Digital Defense Report

2One simple action you can take to prevent 99.9 percent of attacks on your accounts

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