Microsoft rolls out new security tools for IoT deployments

Microsoft unveils a range of new security tools intended to protect IoT and edge deployments

Microsoft has unveiled a range of new security tools that, it claims, will make it easier for companies to secure their Internet of Things (IoT) networks and data.

On Monday, the company began rolling out a suite of "intelligent" security tools and technologies to help enterprises "address emerging threats" to IoT and edge devices.

These announcements include a new Azure application, called Sphere. The company described the product as the "industry's first holistic solution with a custom Linux kernel for securing microcontroller unit".

It is made up of three components, all of which are intended to provide protection and extra power to devices running on the so-called "intelligent edge".

There are also new Sphere-class microcontrollers, which combine real-time and application processors with the company's security and connectivity technologies.

The processors power the Sphere operating system, a purpose-built platform that Microsoft claimed offers users "unequalled security and agility".

Designed specifically to protect IoT devices, the operating system comes with multiple layers of security and a Linux - rather than Windows - kernel.

The firm explained that the operating system enables a "highly-secured software environment and a trustworthy platform for new IoT experiences".

Meanwhile, the Azure Sphere Security Service is a turnkey, cloud platform that protects this new hardware and operating system.

It uses certificate-based authentication to protect device-to-device and device-to-cloud communication.

Additionally, Microsoft has confirmed new automation automated investigation and remediation capabilities for Windows Defender ATP, as well as a security tool called Microsoft Secure Score.

This solution gives companies a way to manage their entire security ecosystem. Finally, there is a new Microsoft Graph security API which lets technology firms and customers "speed up threat investigation and remediation".

Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer of Microsoft, said the announcements "take security more squarely to where it needs to go and where it has not effectively gone before - the edge".

He continued: "Today we're unveiling a series of new services and features that will better harden not only our intelligent cloud but also the billions of connected devices that live on its edge.

"And we're supporting these advances with new offerings that will making security easier for our customers to manage."