November 20, 2024 at 07:34AM
Microsoft has announced a Windows Resiliency Initiative to enhance security and reliability, introducing features like Quick Machine Recovery and user-mode security tools. Updates include a hardware-backed security baseline, administrator protection, personal data encryption, and a bug bounty expansion. These developments align with the Secure Future Initiative launched in November 2023.
**Meeting Takeaways – November 20, 2024: Ravie Lakshmanan on Endpoint Security / AI Research**
1. **Windows Resiliency Initiative Launch**: Microsoft is implementing a new initiative aimed at enhancing security, reliability, and system integrity to prevent incidents similar to CrowdStrike’s in July 2024.
2. **Key Features Announced**:
– **Quick Machine Recovery**: Scheduled for early 2025, this feature allows IT administrators to perform targeted fixes via Windows Update on PCs that cannot boot, improving recovery times significantly.
– **User-Mode Security Tools**: Set to be previewed in July 2025, this capability will enable security tools to run like regular applications, aimed at minimizing operating system impacts during crashes.
3. **Collaboration with Security Partners**: Microsoft is increasing collaboration through the Microsoft Virus Initiative (MVI) to improve resilience with careful product update rollouts and recovery strategies.
4. **New Windows 11 Security Features**:
– **Hardware Security Baseline**: All new Windows 11 PCs will have TPM 2.0 and virtualization-based security (VBS) by default.
– **Administrator Protection**: Users will have standard permissions but can make system changes using Windows Hello for authentication (currently in preview).
– **Phishing-Resistant MFA**: Support for passkeys in Windows Hello.
– **Windows Protected Print**: Elimination of third-party print drivers.
– **Personal Data Encryption**: Securing files in common folders via Windows Hello.
– **Hotpatch**: Allows critical security updates without system restarts.
– **Zero Trust DNS**: Restricts traffic to approved domains only.
– **Config Refresh**: Automatically restores PCs to preferred settings, available now.
5. **Secure Future Initiative**: These updates align with Microsoft’s multi-year commitment to prioritize security in product design and combat cyber threats.
6. **Expansion of Bug Bounty Program**: Microsoft has introduced the Zero Day Quest challenge to enhance collaborative research and security in cloud and AI, emphasizing partnership with external researchers.
7. **Call to Action**: Follow Microsoft on Twitter and LinkedIn for more exclusive content.
**Next Steps**: Stay informed about the developments and prepare for the upcoming features in early 2025 and July 2025.