At NATO’s annual cyber conference on Monday, Microsoft announced the signing of a Government Security Program (GSP) agreement with the NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCI Agency), a new step in a 12-year cybersecurity relationship between the two.
The GSP was designed by Microsoft to help governments evaluate and protect existing systems, as well as to build and maintain more secure infrastructure, Microsoft said. So far, more than 40 agencies from more than 25 governments worldwide have already partnered with the software giant as part of the initiative.
As part of the newly announced GSP agreement between Microsoft and NATO, the two will share technical information with each other and with other GSP participants. The NCI Agency will also receive access to technical information and documentation on Microsoft products and services, internet safety, and threat intelligence.
Designed to bring a more secure European and global cyberspace, Microsoft will offer online training tools and guidance on mitigating the effects of cyber-attacks as part of the agreement. Additionally, Microsoft will share threat information, such as information on infected hosts, to help to identify and fix vulnerable systems.
“We see this signing as another step forward in the NATO -Industry Cyber Partnership, building a stronger cyber defense network today with Microsoft, but also with other Industry partners across the world” said Ambassador Sorin Ducaru, Assistant Secretary General of NATO’s Emerging Security Challenges Division.
The program is focused on an open dialogue and collaboration between the interested parties, with the goal of offering transparency and reliability in the fight against cybercrime. GSP participants receive information on products and services that help them better protect citizens, economies and infrastructure, Microsoft explained.
“NATO is facing new and increasingly dangerous threats to cybersecurity across the world and these threats could affect national economies and citizens. To avoid it, NCI Agency strongly believes in rapid and early information sharing on threats and vulnerabilities with leading companies worldwide, such as Microsoft. Trust is the key to success,” said Koen Gijsbers NCI Agency General Manager.