Microsoft transfers a top cybersecurity exec: As we continue to ..., says internal memo

Time of India

4 hours ago

Image credit: LinkedIn
Microsoft has transferred its chief information security officer,
Igor Tsyganskiy
, out of the company's
security organisation
, a report claims. This move reportedly suggests the increasing importance of
artificial intelligence
(AI) at the software giant. Tsyganskiy, whose previous role as
CISO
involved securing Microsoft's own business and establishing cybersecurity standards company-wide, will now report to Executive VP
Scott Guthrie
. Guthrie leads Microsoft's Cloud + AI group that manages key operations, including Microsoft's Azure cloud and teams that assist OpenAI and other AI companies in developing and running AI models and chatbots in the cloud.
In a recent internal memo (seen by Business Insider), Guthrie wrote:
'As we continue to navigate increasingly complex global threats, the CISO team plays a critical role in safeguarding Microsoft, the Microsoft Cloud, and our customers. They are our first line of defence, and drive our services, products, platforms, and operations to be secure by design and secure by default.'
Previously, Tsyganskiy reported to Charlie Bell, the head of Microsoft's Security group, who is responsible for the company's security and compliance efforts, according to a memo seen by Business Insider.
Tsyganskiy started his role of Microsoft's CISO in January 2024. At the time, Bell praised him in an internal memo (viewed by BI), calling him a
'technologist and dynamic leader with a storied career in high-scale/high-security, demanding environments.'
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What Microsoft said about transferring top cybersecurity executive
In a statement to the publication, Microsoft spokesperson Frank Shaw said the change brings Tsyganskiy's organisation closer to the systems it is responsible for safeguarding.
"The CISO organisation is focused on protecting Microsoft and our customers and being customer zero for our security products. Moving the team to Cloud + AI puts them closer to the engineering systems they secure, deepens integration with platform development, and strengthens our ability to see and stop emerging threats,'
Shaw added
Shaw also noted that Tsyganskiy's team will maintain close collaboration with Microsoft Security
"to ensure our solutions reflect real-world enterprise needs."
This move marks another shift in Microsoft's evolving security strategy following several notable challenges in recent years. In 2022, the company brought in Bell from Amazon to lead a new cybersecurity organisation, but issues have persisted.
Last year, after the
Department of Homeland Security
criticised Microsoft for
"a cascade of security failures"
that allowed Chinese hackers to access customer emails, the company expanded its Secure Future Initiative, making security a company-wide priority and a factor in employee performance reviews.
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