IBM, Microsoft Collaborate On Security Operations Modernisation, Hybrid Cloud Protection

International Business Machines Corp. and Microsoft Corp. are strengthening their cybersecurity collaboration to help enterprises simplify and modernise their security operations and manage and protect their hybrid cloud identities.

As organisations embrace hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence, they require advanced security capabilities to protect valuable data. By combining IBM Consulting's cybersecurity services with Microsoft's security technology portfolio, the two companies will help businesses improve their end-to-end security operations.

"To successfully navigate the ever-evolving and increasingly complex digital landscape, security can no longer be an afterthought—it must be a foundational part of every organisation's core operations," said Mark Hughes, global managing partner of cybersecurity services at IBM Consulting. "Our collaboration with Microsoft provides clients with a simplified, efficient and cost-effective approach to protect cloud workloads."

IBM's Threat Detection and Response Cloud Native service brings together Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR and Defender for Cloud with the AI-powered security technologies that support IBM's TDR Cloud Native service to help accelerate threat detection and response.

As part of the service, IBM Consulting's security analysts provide 24x7 monitoring, investigation and automated remediation of security alerts across organisations' hybrid cloud environments and can help bolster their security operations. The TDR Cloud Native service effectively protects Microsoft cloud environments for clients, the company said.

Cloud identity is becoming an increasingly important part of an organisation's cyber strategy, but it is complicated by the wide range of tools, services and approaches available. To overcome complexities, IBM Consulting and Microsoft have also collaborated on a solution based on the foundation provided by Microsoft Entra suite of tools and enhanced by IBM's automation, accelerators and industry domain knowledge. The solution is designed to protect the cloud journey, while also optimising the identity landscape and costs associated with running multiple identity tools and services.

"As digital transformation accelerates across every industry, organisations require a comprehensive, unified approach to cloud security that protects their entire enterprise from the chip to the cloud," said Alym Rayani, vice president of security marketing at Microsoft. "Our partnership with IBM Consulting makes it easier for clients to securely harness the power of the cloud and AI to drive business innovation."

The collaboration builds on the companies' history of joint development and delivery of enterprise-class cloud and security solutions. The companies are investing in joint initiatives and reskilling programmes to support new offerings in cloud and AI. For example, IBM Consulting's 1,300 Microsoft-certified security practitioners have been trained on natively embedding Microsoft-based security tools, including the Defender suite and services.