Security initiative bears fruit as Microsoft emphasises need for greater collaboration

摘要

Three years ago Microsoft chairman Bill Gates sent an internal memo announcing a new focus for Microsoft. Security, privacy and reliability were to become the watchwords of the organisation. The birth of Microsoft's Trusted Computing initiative was at first greeted with scepticism by IT departments and analysts. In their minds, Microsoft was responsible for the vulnerabilities that were leaving systems open to attack, and for the awkward patching regime that IT departments had no choice but to follow. Three years on, the Trusted Computing initiative looks to be substantially more than a publicity exercise. Scott Charney, vice-president for the programme, said security, reliability and privacy are now firmly embedded into the fabric of the organisation. The initiative has changed the way Microsoft designs and develops its code, he added.