-With users becoming increasingly concerned about cybersecurity it comes as no surprise, then, that big tech players like Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Apple (FAMGA) are investing heavily in data security — especially as several have fallen victim to data breaches themselves.
-These tech giants track our behavior, store our financial information, know where we work and live, what we buy, and more — and as a result, each has made moves to prioritize cybersecurity initiatives across two distinct areas:
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Personal data: Perhaps the most sought after currency of the digital age.
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Corporate data: Virtually every major company, across industries ranging from healthcare to finance, has back end systems that are built around services provided by big tech.
–Facebook, for example, disclosed that an unprecedented data breach in September 2018 exposed the social media accounts of up to 90M users — including login credentials — effectively compromising access to any site that lets users log in with their Facebook account.
-Since then, Facebook began revamping its privacy policy, has restricted data access to various APIs, implemented a more stringent review process, and announced the hiring of an estimated 10,000 new employees who will focus on combating data breaches and monitoring content. Additional director-level staff members are also being hired to specifically address privacy policy legislation, protection, and other concerns.
-Facebook is also looking to use artificial intelligence to improve data security across its organization, even at the expense of making a profit.
In an earnings call, Zuckerberg warned investors that Facebook’s overall growth would likely slow in the coming years because of the investments the company would be making into cybersecurity and privacy initiatives saying, “we’re investing so much in security that it will significantly impact our profitability.”
–Microsoft has a heavy focus on protecting data and cybersecurity — mainly because it has such a wide reach across enterprise systems. That includes a deep focus on improving cloud security, especially as it’s also one of the companies bidding on military-focused JEDI contract (along with Amazon and Oracle).
-While cloud security — especially around its cloud computing service Azure — is paramount, Microsoft is also taking a serious role in election security.
-Microsoft is quadrupling its cybersecurity investment to $20 billion over the next five years.
-One problem all tech companies are facing is the shortage of workers skilled in cybersecurity.
-Microsoft has initiated a national campaign aimed at expanding the cybersecurity workforce to 250,000 professionals by 2025 in an effort to address the current shortage of employees in the said field.
-Aside from cybersecurity-focused recruitment and commitment, Microsoft continues its efforts to develop emerging security technologies such as identity management, endpoint security and passwordless login.
