Latest news with #EuropeanSecurityProgram
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft Expands Security Footprint: Is it the Next Revenue Pillar?
Microsoft's MSFT aggressive expansion into cybersecurity services is gaining momentum as a potential major revenue driver, with the company recently launching its European Security Program and reporting strong growth metrics in its security customer tech giant now serves 1.4 million security customers globally, with over 900,000 utilizing four or more security workloads, representing 21% year-over-year growth. This customer concentration suggests deepening enterprise relationships and higher revenue per customer, critical indicators for sustainable growth in the security European Security Program, announced in Berlin, offers free AI-based threat intelligence sharing to European governments, including all 27 EU member states. While provided at no cost, this strategic move positions Microsoft to capture future commercial opportunities and establishes the company as a trusted security partner across a significant economic integration of artificial intelligence into security operations appears central to Microsoft's strategy. The company processes 84 trillion daily threat signals and has introduced Security Copilot agents designed to autonomously handle high-volume security tasks. This AI-powered approach could differentiate Microsoft's offerings in an increasingly crowded cybersecurity identity service Entra has reached more than 900 million monthly active users, providing a substantial foundation for cross-selling additional security services. The company's multi-workload customer growth suggests successful expansion beyond basic security offerings into comprehensive enterprise cybersecurity threats intensifying globally and organizations increasing security budgets, Microsoft's expanding security portfolio — leveraging its cloud infrastructure and AI capabilities — positions the segment as a potentially significant revenue contributor alongside its established cloud and productivity businesses. Microsoft's 1.4 million security customers contrast sharply with pure-play cybersecurity specialists. CrowdStrike CRWD focuses on premium enterprise segments, with 48% of subscription customers adopting six or more cloud modules, while 32% utilize seven modules and 22% deploy eight or more modules as of April 2025. CrowdStrike's AI-native Falcon platform directly challenges Microsoft's security offerings, though CrowdStrike maintains superior endpoint protection brand recognition. Palo Alto Networks PANW serves more than 80,000 enterprise customers, pursuing platform consolidation strategies similar to Microsoft's multi-workload approach. Palo Alto Networks continues expanding AI capabilities through acquisitions, yet Palo Alto Networks lacks Microsoft's integrated cloud infrastructure advantages for seamless delivery. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Microsoft's fiscal 2025 revenues is pegged at $278.8 billion, suggesting 13.47% year-over-year growth. The consensus mark for earnings is pegged at $13.33 per share, indicating a 12.97% year-over-year increase. Microsoft Corporation price-consensus-chart | Microsoft Corporation Quote Find the latest EPS estimates and surprises on Zacks Earnings stock's current valuation of 11.09 times forward sales appears to fully account for near-term growth potential, exceeding the Zacks Computer - Software industry average of 9.16 times. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Shares of Microsoft have returned 10.1% year to date compared with the Zacks Computer & Technology sector's growth of 0.4%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research MSFT stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) : Free Stock Analysis Report Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (PANW) : Free Stock Analysis Report CrowdStrike (CRWD) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Microsoft says to step up AI-powered European cybersecurity
U.S. tech giant Microsoft said Wednesday (June 4, 2025) that it would step up its cooperation with European governments against cyber threats, including by deploying AI-powered intelligence gathering. Its new European Security Program 'puts AI at the center of our work as a tool to protect traditional cybersecurity needs,' Microsoft Vice Chairman Brad Smith wrote in a blog post. Aiming to deliver real-time intelligence about cyber threats to governments, the scheme will extend to the '27 EU member states, as well as EU accession countries, members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the UK, Monaco, and the Vatican,' he added. Microsoft accused the governments of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea of being behind infiltration of European computer networks for espionage and other purposes. Meanwhile cybercriminals are expanding attacks using tools such as ransomware, which encrypts data on victims' computers and demands they fork over cash to unlock it again. 'We see 600 million attacks on our customers every single day,' Smith told reporters in a briefing ahead of the blog post's release, calling cyberdefence a 'multi-billion-dollar expense for customers across Europe'. AI systems can help detect and identify new forms of attack, Mr. Smith wrote in his blog post. But Microsoft has seen malicious actors using the technology for everything from researching targets to writing code and 'social engineering' — or convincing human employees to facilitate access by hackers. And 'influence operations' by nation-states 'are increasingly using AI to mislead and deceive' including with convincing 'deepfake' images, audio and video, Smith added. The company itself 'tracks any malicious use of new AI models we release and proactively prevents known threat actors from using' them, he wrote. Microsoft last month helped police across Europe take down large swathes of digital infrastructure supporting an 'infostealing' network, Lumma, that had been gathering sensitive information like passwords and crypto wallets from victims' devices. In future, members of the company's Digital Crimes Unit will be embedded with Europol's cybercrime specialists in The Hague, Smith wrote, part of a broader increase in collaboration with European security forces. Microsoft's cybersecurity effort is part of a wider push to increase its operations in Europe. The drive comes as trade tensions simmer between the EU and the Trump administration in the U.S., with many voices questioning European firms' strategic dependence on American-made technology.
Business Recorder
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Microsoft says to step up AI-powered European cybersecurity
PARIS: US tech giant Microsoft said Wednesday that it would step up its cooperation with European governments against cyber threats, including by deploying AI-powered intelligence gathering. Its new European Security Program 'puts AI at the center of our work as a tool to protect traditional cybersecurity needs,' Microsoft Vice Chairman Brad Smith wrote in a blog post. Aiming to deliver real-time intelligence about cyber threats to governments, the scheme will extend to the '27 EU member states, as well as EU accession countries, members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the UK, Monaco, and the Vatican,' he added. Microsoft accused the governments of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea of being behind infiltration of European computer networks for espionage and other purposes. Meanwhile cybercriminals are expanding attacks using tools such as ransomware, which encrypts data on victims' computers and demands they fork over cash to unlock it again. Microsoft to invest $400 million in Switzerland on AI, cloud computing 'We see 600 million attacks on our customers every single day,' Smith told reporters in a briefing ahead of the blog post's release, calling cyberdefence a 'multi-billion-dollar expense for customers across Europe'. AI systems can help detect and identify new forms of attack, Smith wrote in his blog post. But Microsoft has seen malicious actors using the technology for everything from researching targets to writing code and 'social engineering' – or convincing human employees to facilitate access by hackers. And 'influence operations' by nation-states 'are increasingly using AI to mislead and deceive' including with convincing 'deepfake' images, audio and video, Smith added. The company itself 'tracks any malicious use of new AI models we release and proactively prevents known threat actors from using' them, he wrote. Microsoft last month helped police across Europe take down large swathes of digital infrastructure supporting an 'infostealing' network, Lumma, that had been gathering sensitive information like passwords and crypto wallets from victims' devices. In future, members of the company's Digital Crimes Unit will be embedded with Europol's cybercrime specialists in The Hague, Smith wrote, part of a broader increase in collaboration with European security forces. Microsoft's cybersecurity effort is part of a wider push to increase its operations in Europe. The drive comes as trade tensions simmer between the EU and the Trump administration in the US, with many voices questioning European firms' strategic dependence on American-made technology.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Microsoft says to step up AI-powered European cybersecurity
PARIS: US tech giant Microsoft said Wednesday that it would step up its cooperation with European governments against cyber threats, including by deploying AI-powered intelligence gathering. Its new European Security Program 'puts AI at the center of our work as a tool to protect traditional cybersecurity needs,' Microsoft Vice Chairman Brad Smith wrote in a blog post. Aiming to deliver real-time intelligence about cyber threats to governments, the scheme will extend to the '27 EU member states, as well as EU accession countries, members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the UK, Monaco, and the Vatican,' he added. Microsoft accused the governments of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea of being behind infiltration of European computer networks for espionage and other purposes. Meanwhile cybercriminals are expanding attacks using tools such as ransomware, which encrypts data on victims' computers and demands they fork over cash to unlock it again. 'We see 600 million attacks on our customers every single day,' Smith told reporters in a briefing ahead of the blog post's release, calling cyberdefence a 'multi-billion-dollar expense for customers across Europe'. AI systems can help detect and identify new forms of attack, Smith wrote in his blog post. But Microsoft has seen malicious actors using the technology for everything from researching targets to writing code and 'social engineering' -- or convincing human employees to facilitate access by hackers. And 'influence operations' by nation-states 'are increasingly using AI to mislead and deceive' including with convincing 'deepfake' images, audio and video, Smith added. The company itself 'tracks any malicious use of new AI models we release and proactively prevents known threat actors from using' them, he wrote. Microsoft last month helped police across Europe take down large swathes of digital infrastructure supporting an 'infostealing' network, Lumma, that had been gathering sensitive information like passwords and crypto wallets from victims' devices. In future, members of the company's Digital Crimes Unit will be embedded with Europol's cybercrime specialists in The Hague, Smith wrote, part of a broader increase in collaboration with European security forces. Microsoft's cybersecurity effort is part of a wider push to increase its operations in Europe. The drive comes as trade tensions simmer between the EU and the Trump administration in the US, with many voices questioning European firms' strategic dependence on American-made technology.
