Microsoft launches Cybersecurity Engagement Center in Delhi

NEW DELHI, INDIA: After running pilot for one year, Microsoft India launched its first full-scale Cybersecurity Engagement Center (CSEC) in Delhi. This is the company's seventh Cybersecurity Center in the world and will function as a satellite to the company’s Redmond Digital Crimes Unit (DCU).

Over the last 12 months, the Microsoft cybersecurity engagement team met with over 100 organizations in India. Based on those conversations, the team observed three common IT environment issues plaguing organizations in the country. These are also the highest cybersecurity risks:

-Unmanaged and unregulated IT assets usage, procurement and maintenance.

-Poor knowledge of cyber hygiene among users within organizations.

-Inability of companies to timely monitor, detect and remove cyber threats. 

Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft India, said, “We believe security of critical information is imperative for our corporate customers, just as it is vital to ensure security and privacy of citizen data and transactions. Our first investment towards this was setting up our local datacenters in India last year, and today’s launch of the Cybersecurity Engagement Center is the second.”

To support a comprehensive, cross-company and cross-industry approach to cybersecurity, Microsoft invests more than a billion dollars a year in security research, innovation and development.

Madhu Khatri, Associate General Counsel, Microsoft India said, “As governments and enterprises embrace digital transformation and strive for resilience, a holistic and agile security platform is ever more critical. We want to collaborate with our customers, our partners and with the Government to combat cyber threat in India.”

The India center will foster deeper cybersecurity collaborations with public and private sector organizations and build a trusted and secure computing environment- a critical enabler for India’s digital transformation.

Expanding public-private partnerships

In addition to enabling and empowering enterprises to manage modern security threats effectively, the Microsoft Cybersecurity Engagement Center will aim to expand Microsoft’s public-private partnerships in country. Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) has fostered various partnerships with public sector and enforcement agencies globally. This includes strategic collaboration with Interpol in global malware botnet disruption operations and a PhotoDNA licensing collaboration to support Interpol’s efforts in preventing child sexual exploitation online, as well as cyber threat intelligence sharing partnerships with several Internet Service Providers in the region and government Computer Emergency Response Teams (CERTs).

Microsoft security consultancy services

As part of Microsoft Consultancy Services (MCS), a dedicated India-based response team will offer security consultancy services to enterprise customers. The MCS team works closely with enterprises to understand their business goals, challenges and technical maturity to develop enterprise security strategies and empower them through their critical digital transformation.

Raising cybersecurity awareness

Microsoft has also rolled out Microsoft Secure, a nationwide campaign to increase awareness on cybersecurity to help organizations understand their security requirements better. Through its three-pronged approach of comprehensive platform, unique intelligence and partnerships, Microsoft is aiming to drive educational sessions and coaching sessions with enterprises in the country. The campaign has reached out to over 300 enterprises so far.