Microsoft Launches Free AI-Powered Cybersecurity Program for European Governments

Microsoft unveils free EU cybersecurity program for governments

Microsoft announced in Berlin today a new European Security Program that promises to bolster cybersecurity for European governments. The program expands to Microsoft's existing Government Security Program, which is free to all European Union countries, including accession states, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) members, the UK, Monaco, and the Vatican. The tech giant noted that the program primarily aims to thwart attacks from state-backed actors in Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea, who have escalated their operations against the EU. "Microsoft continues to observe persistent threat activity targeting European networks from nation-state actors, with Russian and Chinese activity being particularly prolific in Europe," reads the announcement. "Nation-state actors, including those engaging in malicious activity from Iran and North Korea, are predominantly pursuing espionage objectives in Europe through credential theft or the exploitation of vulnerabilities to gain access to corporate and government networks," mentions Microsoft in another part. The key element of the program is the use of artificial intelligence to create actionable intelligence that will help in the timely detection and blocking of sophisticated attacks. Microsoft will provide real-time AI-driven threat insights tailored to the needs of each nation, leveraging the program and expanding access to intelligence from the Digital Crimes Unit and Threat Analysis Center. Moreover, Microsoft will supply updates on foreign influence operations using deepfakes and deliver early warnings and remediation guidance for newly discovered vulnerabilities. Another important pillar in the new program is strengthening partnerships to identify new threats, develop defense measures, and disrupt cybercrime. Microsoft will renew and strengthen collaborations with Europol, the CyberPeace Institute, LASR, and the Western Balkans Cyber Capacity Center, and will continue to support the GitHub Secure Open Source Fund. Also, it will work closer with internet service providers to advise on user-level remediation. Microsoft highlights its recent role in the recent takedown of the Lumma infostealer malware as a clear demonstration of its deepening commitment to protecting Europe's digital infrastructure. The info-stealer operation had many infections in the continent, mainly in Spain, France, Poland, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom.

Microsoft offers to boost European governments' cybersecurity for free

STOCKHOLM, June 4 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab is offering free of charge to European governments a cybersecurity programme, launched on Wednesday, to bolster their defences against cyber threats, including those enhanced by artificial intelligence, it said. After a surge in cyberattacks in Europe, many linked to state-sponsored actors from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the programme aims to boost intelligence-sharing on AI-based threats and help to prevent and disrupt attacks. "If we can bring more to Europe of what we have developed in the United States, that will strengthen cybersecurity protection for more European institutions," Microsoft President Brad Smith told Reuters in an interview. "You're going to see other things we are doing later in the month." Increasingly, attackers employ generative AI to amplify the scale and impact of their operations that range from disrupting critical infrastructure to spreading disinformation. Although malicious actors have weaponised AI, Smith said AI also offered defensive tools. "We don't feel that we have seen AI that has evaded our ability to detect the use of AI or the threats more broadly," Smith said. "Our goal needs to be to keep AI advancing as a defensive tool faster than it advances as an offensive weapon," he said. Microsoft tracks any malicious use of AI models it releases and prevents known cybercriminals from using its AI products. AI-driven deepfakes have included a portrayal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy capitulating to Russian demands in 2022 and a fake audio recording in 2023 that influenced, opens new tab the Slovakian election. Smith said so far audio had been easier to fake than video. Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; editing by Barbara Lewis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Cybersecurity Supantha Mukherjee Thomson Reuters Supantha leads the European Technology and Telecoms coverage, with a special focus on emerging technologies such as AI and 5G. He has been a journalist for about 18 years. He joined Reuters in 2006 and has covered a variety of beats ranging from financial sector to technology. He is based in Stockholm, Sweden.

Microsoft is increasing efforts to protect Europe's cybersecurity

Editor's take: The second Trump administration has deliberately strained the traditional partnership between the US and the EU. As a result, many technology companies are now developing market-specific programs and funding initiatives tailored exclusively for Europe. Microsoft, in particular, is eager to strengthen its relationship with European governments, especially in the area of cybersecurity. Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith recently introduced the European Security Program, a new initiative aimed at strengthening cybersecurity defenses across Europe. Speaking in Berlin, Smith described ESP as a key part of the company's broader vision for a "Digital Europe," first unveiled in April. The program builds on Microsoft's existing cybersecurity efforts in the region, while introducing new elements to bolster digital resilience across the continent. ESP is structured around three core pillars: Microsoft said the cybersecurity tools offered through ESP will be provided free of charge to European governments. The initiative will engage not only all 27 EU member states, but also candidate countries, members of the European Free Trade Association, the United Kingdom, Monaco, and the Vatican. AI-powered solutions are central to ESP's mission. According to Microsoft, cybercriminals are increasingly using large language models and other AI tools to develop sophisticated threats. In response, the company is expanding its Government Security Program to give European governments greater access to actionable threat intelligence, leveraging the same AI capabilities to improve cyber defense. Redmond will use AI to track sophisticated threat actors backed by adversarial nation-states such as China and Russia, expand intelligence sources through partnerships with trusted European stakeholders, and provide regular intelligence briefings on foreign influence campaigns. In addition, the company will issue timely alerts about newly identified security vulnerabilities. Microsoft also plans new investments to strengthen public-private partnerships, enhance support against ransomware, and fund research and innovation in AI-driven security. Additional funding is earmarked for key European open-source projects, including Log4J and Scancode. Microsoft is already collaborating with Europol and other European law enforcement agencies to disrupt major cybercrime operations, such as the infamous Lumma infostealer. That collaboration will now intensify. Many of Lumma's 400,000 infections were detected in Europe, with Spain, France, and Poland among the hardest-hit EU countries. "At Microsoft, our commitment to Europe is deep, enduring, and unwavering. We believe that Europe's digital future is one of the most important opportunities of our time - and protecting that future is a responsibility we share," Smith said. That said, relations between Microsoft and Europe's top regulatory bodies have not always been smooth - particularly in the realm of antitrust enforcement. The European Commission has repeatedly levied significant fines against Microsoft and other Big Tech companies. Still, Redmond has shown a growing willingness to seek more amicable resolutions with Brussels when possible.

Microsoft offers to boost European governments' cybersecurity for free

After a surge in cyberattacks in Europe, many linked to state-sponsored actors from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the programme aims to boost intelligence-sharing on AI-based threats and help to prevent and disrupt attacks.Microsoft is offering free of charge to European governments a cybersecurity programme, launched on Wednesday, to bolster their defences against cyber threats, including those enhanced by artificial intelligence, it said. After a surge in cyberattacks in Europe, many linked to state-sponsored actors from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the programme aims to boost intelligence-sharing on AI-based threats and help to prevent and disrupt attacks. "If we can bring more to Europe of what we have developed in the United States, that will strengthen cybersecurity protection for more European institutions," Microsoft President Brad Smith told Reuters in an interview. "You're going to see other things we are doing later in the month." Increasingly, attackers employ generative AI to amplify the scale and impact of their operations that range from disrupting critical infrastructure to spreading disinformation. Although malicious actors have weaponised AI, Smith said AI also offered defensive tools. "We don't feel that we have seen AI that has evaded our ability to detect the use of AI or the threats more broadly," Smith said. "Our goal needs to be to keep AI advancing as a defensive tool faster than it advances as an offensive weapon," he said. Microsoft tracks any malicious use of AI models it releases and prevents known cybercriminals from using its AI products. AI-driven deepfakes have included a portrayal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy capitulating to Russian demands in 2022 and a fake audio recording in 2023 that influenced the Slovakian election. Smith said so far audio had been easier to fake than video.

Microsoft offers to boost European governments' cybersecurity for free

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) -Microsoft is offering free of charge to European governments a cybersecurity programme, launched on Wednesday, to bolster their defences against cyber threats, including those enhanced by artificial intelligence, it said. After a surge in cyberattacks in Europe, many linked to state-sponsored actors from China, Iran, North Korea and Russia, the programme aims to boost intelligence-sharing on AI-based threats and help to prevent and disrupt attacks. "If we can bring more to Europe of what we have developed in the United States, that will strengthen cybersecurity protection for more European institutions," Microsoft President Brad Smith told Reuters in an interview. "You're going to see other things we are doing later in the month." Increasingly, attackers employ generative AI to amplify the scale and impact of their operations that range from disrupting critical infrastructure to spreading disinformation. Although malicious actors have weaponised AI, Smith said AI also offered defensive tools. "We don't feel that we have seen AI that has evaded our ability to detect the use of AI or the threats more broadly," Smith said. "Our goal needs to be to keep AI advancing as a defensive tool faster than it advances as an offensive weapon," he said. Microsoft tracks any malicious use of AI models it releases and prevents known cybercriminals from using its AI products. AI-driven deepfakes have included a portrayal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy capitulating to Russian demands in 2022 and a fake audio recording in 2023 that influenced the Slovakian election. Smith said so far audio had been easier to fake than video. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; editing by Barbara Lewis)