Center for Internet Security announces Microsoft partnership
The Center for Internet Security this week announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft meant to bolster cybersecurity measures for state, local, tribal and territorial organizations, though the group provided few other details.
Both CIS and Microsoft declined to provide further explanation of what the partnership entails or what it might mean for state and local governments.
The partnership builds on CIS’s collaboration with Microsoft: In July, CIS was introduced into the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association, which provides multi-cloud security compliance solutions to help fortify digital defense capabilities against cyber threats to the public sector, according to a news release.
The Upstate New York nonprofit, which runs the federally funded Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, provides tools and support to enrolled state and local agencies.
In 2021, CIS partnered with CrowdStrike to offer a suite of endpoint security technologies to state and local governments.
“CIS has long been committed to promoting effective cybersecurity among state and local governments,” CIS Chief Operating Officer Gina Chapman said in the news release. “Our joint efforts with Microsoft will further assist us in collectively addressing the unique challenges faced by the traditionally cyber underserved organizations in the public sector and will ultimately further protect SLTTs against pervasive cyber threats.”
“Microsoft is committed to enhancing the cybersecurity of our customers through our security platform and AI technologies,” Gina Marie Hatheway, national security lead for security at Microsoft’s state and local government division, said in the release. “Our mission is to support state and local governments to increase their security posture and resilience. We are thrilled with the opportunity to strategically collaborate with CIS, who plays an important role in protecting and defending our country.”
