As Facebook and Google deal with major security breaches and Amazon and Apple are attacked by President Trump, one tech giant has managed to stay out of the wrong spotlight in recent months.
That’s the focus of a Washington Post interview with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella published on Tuesday which details how the Redmond, Wash.-based company has “dodged the bruising that its peers have taken this year.”
Google on Monday revealed that it exposed private data of 500,000 Google+ users without informing the public. Facebook logged out 90 million accounts last month after discovering another security vulnerability. Apple and Amazon continue to draw the ire of President Trump.
Microsoft has meanwhile used heightened attention on security as an advantage. In August the company said it located and shut down six internet domains created by a group associated with the Russian government. At the same time, Microsoft rolled out a new cybersecurity program to help political candidates and organizations protect themselves from hackers.
Nadella told The Post that Microsoft learned from earlier cyberattacks during the Bill Gates era and has since designed products and services with revamped security protocols.
He added that “having the scrutiny is actually good, I think,” in regard to the extra attention being placed on tech companies.
Last month at the company’s Ignite conference, Microsoft executives highlighted their approach toward cloud security as a competitive advantage, arguing it is uniquely positioned to handle the ever-expanding number of cybersecurity threats in our world.
A few other tidbits from The Post interview: Nadella said he tries to limit screen time with his three children and avoids sending emails to staff on weekends thanks to help from Microsoft’s AI software, calling that habit a “classic overuse of power.”
