I’ve often said our teams should be as diverse as the problems we are trying to solve. Hiring a diverse security team isn’t just the right thing to do, it’s also good business. This is a topic I’m very passionate about, so I was delighted to interview Jane Frankland for the second podcast of Afternoon Cyber Tea, From threat intelligence to chatbots.
Jane founded and ran a cybersecurity company that conducted penetration testing. She also authored the book Insecurity: Why a Failure to Attract and Retain Women in Cybersecurity Is Making Us All Less Safe, and she provides consulting for the cybersecurity community.
Jane and I talked about how important it is for defenders to think like an attacker and the security challenges facing chatbots and other artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. One critical concern that we need to address is the replication of cultural bias in our AI. We both agreed that staffing AI teams with a diverse group of people can help. Jane is a powerful advocate for making cybersecurity and technology spaces more inclusive of women, and she talked through a few research-backed approaches that organizations can take to attract more women to their organizations. It was a great conversation, and I hope you’ll listen to this episode of Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson on Apple Podcasts or Podcast One.
Join me at RSA Conference 2020
If you will be in San Francisco in February for the RSA Conference, I will be delivering a keynote, “Why your people are still your best cyber defense,” on February 26, 2020 at 4:05 PM. Over the years, I’ve learned that the companies that are most successful at recovering from a cyberattack tend to have two things in common: the right technology and good people. AI and machine learning will be vital tools in the fight for cybersecurity, but so will the human spirit. Join me at this keynote to hear how to create a culture where people are your best defense.
What’s next
In this important cyber series, I talk with cybersecurity influencers about trends shaping the threat landscape and explore the risk and promise of systems powered by AI, Internet of Things (IoT), and other emerging tech.
You can listen to Afternoon Cyber Tea with Ann Johnson on:
Apple Podcasts—You can also download the episode by clicking the Episode Website link.
Podcast One—Includes option to subscribe, so you’re notified as soon as new episodes are available.
CISO Spotlight page—Listen alongside our CISO Spotlight episodes, where customers and security experts discuss similar topics such as Zero Trust, compliance, going passwordless, and more.
In the meantime, bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us at @MSFTSecurity for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity. Or reach out to me on LinkedIn or Twitter if you have guest or topic suggestions.
As we embark upon a new decade, the automotive industry is reaching the most transformative point in its long, pre-digital history. It is predicted that by 2030, there will be a $4 trillion opportunity focused on new mobility services, as the automotive and transportation sectors converge.
Sanjay Ravi.
Nowhere was the breadth and scale of this opportunity more evident than at CES 2020, held earlier this year in Las Vegas. At this year’s show, two key themes really stood out for me in terms of the transformations that are happening around connected, autonomous, shared and electric (C.A.S.E.) scenarios, and the underlying technologies that are enabling them.
First, the C.A.S.E. technologies that were introduced during the past decade have advanced significantly. And second, over the next 10 years, we will see these capabilities merge.
The C.A.S.E. technologies that were introduced during the past decade have advanced significantly. At CES, we were proud to share in some important announcements with our customers and partners around these advancements, demonstrating how Microsoft technology is helping to accelerate new business models and consumer experiences.
Re-inventing the in-vehicle experience
When it comes to connected vehicles, capabilities such as in-car productivity and entertainment are critical for competitive differentiation. Faurecia, a global leader in automotive technology, is collaborating with Microsoft to develop services that improve comfort, wellness and infotainment, as well as bring digital continuity from the home or office to the car, through access to content on demand or through collaborative working platforms.
A cloud-connected cockpit gives automakers, mobility providers and consumers the ability to upgrade their traveling environment, for example, through enhancing sound, and personalizing entertainment options or in-cabin services. At CES, Faurecia demonstrated how its cockpit integration will enable Microsoft Teams videoconferencing. Using Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform, Faurecia also showcased its vision of playing games on the go, using Microsoft’s new Project xCloud streaming game preview.
Jean-Philippe Courtois, Microsoft executive vice president, and president of Global Sales, Marketing and Operations, experiences Faurecia’s cockpit demo at CES 2020.
Cerence, a global leader in creating unique, moving experiences for the automotive world, is working with Microsoft to integrate Cerence Drive products with the Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform (MCVP). This new integration is part of Cerence’s ongoing commitment to delivering a superior user experience in the car through interoperability across voice-powered platforms and operating systems. Automakers developing their connected vehicle solutions on MCVP can now benefit from Cerence’s industry-leading conversational artificial intelligence (AI), in turn delivering a seamless, connected, voice-powered experience to drivers and passengers using their technology.
Speeding up the drive to full autonomy
Mainstream autonomous mobility is coming. IHS Markit, a world leader in critical information, analytics and solutions, cites significant growth in the availability and standardization of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and automated driving, as people become more comfortable with these technologies.
Microsoft is collaborating with the industry to bring us closer to an autonomous future by accelerating autonomous driving development and testing with the Azure ecosystem. For example, Elektrobit, an award-winning global supplier of embedded and connected software products and services for the automotive industry, accelerates development of ADAS and AD systems with a new, cloud-based, end-to-end solution for software validation.
Available on Azure, the new EB Assist Test Lab provides distributed teams with a single solution to more easily manage petabytes of driving-scene data generated in real and simulated test drives during the validation and verification process, allowing those teams to collaborate and ultimately bring the latest features into production more quickly.
Pioneering the mobility experiences of the future
The next decade will see the creation of standardized platforms for smart mobility services that are built to support commercial solutions, meet consumer demands at global scale and re-invent experiences. Bell’s digital mobility platform, AerOS, will give fleet operators a 360-degree view into their aircraft fleet. By leveraging technologies like AI and IoT, AerOS provides powerful capabilities like fleet master scheduling and real-time aircraft monitoring, enhancing Bell’s Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) experience. In building AerOS, Bell chose Microsoft’s Azure cloud as the foundation, and teamed up with Microsoft’s engineers to gain architectural insight, developer support and best practices.
Mobility services will also be a major catalyst for the development of advanced IoT capabilities that make it possible to securely transmit data in complex environments across edge devices such as vehicles, phones, traffic lights or charging stations, and the cloud. We are already seeing the converging of the automotive retail and energy industries, thanks to what is happening with smart charging. Now, the entire energy grid is coming together in a connected way to redefine how we power our cars.
FlashParking, a leader in parking technology, has unveiled their Mobility Hub Operating System, a platform built on Microsoft Azure that is powering the evolution of isolated parking assets into connected mobility hubs that are more efficient, intelligent and adaptable than the garages and surface lots of the past.
Merging advanced technologies to power the future of the automotive industry
The convergence of advanced technologies is playing a key role in enabling the automotive ecosystem and delivering smart mobility services. This is where Microsoft comes in. Along with our extensive global partner network, we support automotive and mobility companies in their evolution to becoming sustainable mobility service providers.
Global technology company ZF Friedrichshafen is transforming into a provider of software-driven mobility solutions, leveraging Azure cloud services and developer tools to promote faster development and validation of connected vehicle functions at a global scale.
LG Electronics is working with Microsoft to build its automotive infotainment systems, building management systems and other business-to-business collaborations. LG will leverage Microsoft Azure cloud and AI services to accelerate the digital transformation of LG’s B2B business growth engines.
Accelerating the connected vehicle opportunity
Many of the value-added services that were on display at CES from our customers and partners are powered by the Microsoft Connected Vehicle Platform (MCVP). It provides underlying capabilities that our partners and OEMs can use to quickly and cost-effectively create their own connected vehicle solutions. These include digital services ranging from assisted and autonomous driving to in-vehicle AI telemetry and advanced navigation.
For example, Microsoft has built strong partnerships with TomTom, a leading independent location technology specialist, for traffic-based routing. In addition, we are working with TomTom and Moovit on developing a multi-modal trip planner, and with AccuWeather for weather reports and forecasts to increase awareness of weather events that will occur along a driver’s route.
The Volkswagen Automotive Cloud will be one of the largest dedicated clouds of its kind in the automotive industry and will provide all future digital services and mobility offerings across its entire fleet. More than 5 million new Volkswagen-specific brand vehicles are to be fully connected on Microsoft’s Azure cloud and edge platform each year. The Automotive Cloud subsequently will be rolled out on all Volkswagen Group brands and models.
Volkswagen intends to assemble more than 10,000 digital experts together in its new Car.Software organization, with a group-wide responsibility for software in the vehicle by 2025. The organization will develop cross-brand software in five clusters: Connected Car & Device Platform; Intelligent Body & Cockpit; Automated Driving; Vehicle Motion & Energy; and Digital Business & Mobility Services. The objective is to establish one uniform software architecture across the Volkswagen Group, and bring together parallel development paths in the brands. The clusters will cover the development work on one standard vehicle operating system, “vw.os,” for all Volkswagen Group vehicles and their connection to the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud.
Ericsson is integrating its Connected Vehicle Cloud, which connects more than 4 million vehicles across 180 countries, with Microsoft’s Connected Vehicle Platform to accelerate the delivery of safe, comfortable and personalized connected driving experiences. The integrated solution allows automakers to more quickly and easily deploy and scale global vehicle services such as fleet management, over-the-air software upgrades and connected safety services, while reducing costs.
Luxoft, a digital strategy and software engineering firm, is expanding its collaboration with Microsoft to accelerate the delivery of connected vehicle solutions and mobility experiences. By leveraging MCVP, Luxoft will enable and accelerate the delivery of vehicle-centric solutions and services that will allow automakers to deliver unique features such as advanced vehicle diagnostics, remote access and repair, and preventive maintenance. Collecting real usage data will also support vehicle engineering to improve manufacturing quality.
Late last year, I announced the launch of Imagine Cup Junior, an exciting new opportunity for students aged 13-18, to engage with Microsoft’s AI for Good Initiatives and come up with big ideas to help solve big challenges. To date we’ve had over 300 educators register, which represents over 1,000 student teams, and today the opportunity to submit projects opens. Just learning about this now? No worries. It’s not too late to get involved – the challenge is open for participation until submissions close on April 17.
To recap, Imagine Cup Junior is a global challenge to empower students who are starting to learn about technology to come up with ideas for improving the world around them. At the same time, the program helps students develop 21st century, skills like the ability to communicate and collaborate and demonstrate critical thinking and creativity. The current challenge is focused on Artificial Intelligence and introduces students to Microsoft’s AI for Good initiatives so they can explore of solutions to the issues that matter to them the most. This includes AI for Earth, AI for Accessibility, AI for Humanitarian Action and AI for Cultural Heritage.
We encourage you to get all of your students involved regardless of their current experience with or knowledge about artificial intelligence. We’d love to see what ideas they come up with and give them the opportunity to start to explore what can be achieved with AI.
Registering provides access to our Imagine Cup Junior resource pack with robust curriculum on artificial intelligence. Topics include: the Fundamentals of AI, Machine Learning, AI Applications in Real Life, Deep Learning and Neural Networks; and AI for Good. We’ve got you covered with educator guides, student guides and lesson PowerPoints you can incorporate these resources into your school curriculum over multiple days or weeks.
An alternative to using this content as part of your lessons is to set up an Imagine Cup Junior ‘hackathon’ where you can use the ‘Build Your Project in a Day’ kit to guide your student groups from start to finish. This great kit includes videos from AI experts at Microsoft to motivate your students along the way as they work within their teams to come up with their idea and build out the elements against the timer into a full submission, using our challenge submission templates. We’ve also introduced the new Teacher Toolkit in OneNote format to give you access to student certificates, stickers, a selfie frame and more so that you can recognize student work and the completion of their projects.
You can get started today! Register your interest in Imagine Cup Junior, download the materials, get your students into teams of between three and six and have them work on solving a big problem with the support of artificial intelligence alongside other students from across the world.
Just a reminder: This is open only to schools/instructor led clubs for students ages 13-18. Submissions close on 4/17/20. For Official Rules, see here.
Microsoft executives and Blacks at Microsoft leaders, award winners and chapter members rang Nasdaq’s closing bell to kick off Black History Month. In the front row, from left, Stacey Mahoney, Tekisha Thomas, Melinda Moyo-Turner, Amma Kwateng, Emmeline Jean, Rodney Williams; middle row, Felicia Gardner, Fanta Dicko, Albert Dankwa, Aissa Bautista, Mallory Banks, Erica Rhoden, Bianca Francis, Michael Dunner, Nicole Smith, Curtis Clay III, Brandon Clark, Kimberly Powell, Ray Wilson, Danielle Skeen; back row, Cassandra Young, Bambo Sofola, Ryan Trollinger, Travis Walter.
As I reflect on the importance of Black History month, the words from Maya Angelou’s poem, “Still I Rise,” come to mind. “Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise I rise I rise.” Yesterday, my friends and colleagues proudly stood on the floor of the world’s largest stock exchange and rang the market’s closing bell, signaling an end to the day’s trading and serving as our kickoff for Black History Month festivities at Microsoft.
YouTube Video
There’s so much to celebrate during Black History Month, as it’s an opportunity to acknowledge and recognize the incredible contributions that our community has made to the very fabric of this country. While there’s plenty to celebrate, we must recognize that this is only possible because of the hard work and sacrifices made by our ancestors. Like many of us, I am a product of American history – a great-great granddaughter of slaves. Our ancestor’s struggles, triumphs, joys, perseverance and sacrifices have paved the way for our generation, and future generations yet to be born.
A spark of that same perseverance and strength inspired the vision of the Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) founders more than 30 years ago. We were the first of many Microsoft’s employee resource groups. As we rang that bell today, some of their dreams were being realized. We stand on their shoulders and recognize how hard they worked to create a community that has meant so much to so many, and with that, we’re eternally grateful.
For me, BAM represents our journey as black employees to learn, develop, grow and support each other through our collective community, with the ongoing support of many allies. That journey in turn, informs Microsoft’s diverse and inclusive culture which has a direct impact on our customers and partners as well. The journey is never complete, but the ongoing engagement and support of our collective community has had a lasting and positive impact on many, including me.
As we celebrate our history and the accomplishments of many extraordinary people this month, I encourage you to reflect on your own learning journey. We all have a responsibility to learn from others and lend our help and support to others who can benefit from the same. At Microsoft we are all striving to become thoughtful and informed allies to others. While Black History Month is one moment in time, this commitment can allow us to understand and support each other all year round. Now more than ever, we need to galvanize as a community to pave the way for generations to come.
We’ve come so far, but we still have a long journey ahead of us. It’s more important than ever for us to come together and work toward opportunity, equity and equality for everyone.
Watch BAM team members in a “Behind the Bell” interview with Nasdaq on LinkedIn.
Microsoft Security 20/20 is nearly here and our team is putting the final touches on what we think will be a memorable event. Microsoft Security 20/20 will put the spotlight on companies and individuals with a clear-eyed view of the security challenges we face and smart solutions to help solve them. By working together, we advance the vision of what’s possible—and our joint customers’ security is stronger because of it.
“Solving our mutual customers’ security challenges is very much a team sport. I’m excited to recognize these leaders in the ecosystem at Microsoft’s inaugural security awards.” —Andrew Conway, General Manager, Security Product Marketing
About the event
At the inaugural Microsoft Security 20/20 partner awards, we’ll celebrate finalists in 16 award categories that span security integration partners, system integrators, and managed security service providers. The awards gala will take place February 23, 2020—the Sunday before the RSA Conference in San Francisco. All finalists have been invited to attend this private event. Opening remarks from Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President of the Cybersecurity Solutions Group, will center around Microsoft’s vision for the security ecosystem and how—together—we’ll help our customers get clarity on security.
“The themes for Microsoft Security 20/20 are vision and clarity. Microsoft is focused on protecting our customers and there is no vision for the future that doesn’t involve security partners. We’re hosting the first Microsoft Security 20/20 partner awards gala to honor security partners that are making an impact through technology development and customer enablement.” —Rob Lefferts, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Threat Protection
Better together
I passionately believe that the security ecosystem must work together to realize a future where people, information, and companies are safer. Microsoft Security 20/20 honors partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions and services during the past year that put us on the path toward that vision.
The award categories and finalists were selected by a cross functional group within Microsoft. These finalists were chosen among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation, integration, and customer implementation. Winners will be chosen based on a vote from a broad swath of Microsoft Security experts, which includes engineers, marketers, partners, managers, security architects, and more.
This blog would not be complete without showcasing each and every one of these amazing companies and visionary industry leaders, because in a kaleidoscope of security threats and news, these finalists offer an inspiring vision for the future.
ISV Partner of the Year
Software vendors that have shown innovation and the ability to drive revenue.
Emerging ISV Disruptor
Partners who show growth potential and have innovative emerging capabilities.
Most Prolific Integration Partner
Partners with numerous integrations across Azure and Microsoft 365 security.
Customer Impact
Independent software vendors (ISVs) that have driven a significant number of customers wins.
Identity Trailblazer
Partners that are driving major identity-related initiatives and educating the market on how to be protect identities.
Security Trailblazer
Partners that are driving major security-related initiatives and educating the market on how to be more secure.
Security Workshop Partner of the Year
Service partners that are driving the most high-quality security workshops.
Azure Security Deployment Partner of the Year
Service providers that are increasing usage and adoption rates for Azure security products.
Microsoft 365 Security Deployment Partner of the Year
Service providers that are increasing usage and adoption rates for Microsoft 365 security products.
Security System Integrator of the Year
System Integrators that are working closely with the Cybersecurity Solutions Group to close deals and integrate Microsoft into customers’ environments.
Security Advisory of the Year
Security advisory firms that are building core competencies on top of Microsoft Security solutions and working closely with the Cybersecurity Solutions Group to act as a trusted advisor to Microsoft customers.
Top Managed SOC/MDR
Security operations centers that are supporting the largest customers in the world and building strong intellectual property that layers on top of Microsoft Security solutions.
MSSP/TDR Disrupter
Threat, detection, and response experts that are changing the game for managed security services.
Top Github Contributor
With input from the GitHub team, we identified individuals who are going above and beyond to support the open source community with their GitHub contributions.
Industry Changemaker
Individuals who are making a standout contribution to improving the security community.
Election Security Partner of the Year
Organizations that are effecting change for one of our most critical global security challenges—election security.
Learn more
To learn more about Microsoft Security partners, see our partners page. To find out more about what Microsoft’s up to at RSA Conference 2020, read this blog.
Bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters. Also, follow us at @MSFTSecurity for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.
Finding your dream job can take effort, but with some innovative features, LinkedIn has made it easier. A survey of LinkedIn members uncovered that potential commute time is high on the list of factors when considering a role.
With the help of the Bing Maps APIs, the LinkedIn team has developed features like “Your Commute” bringing location intelligence to bear on the job hut.
Read the full story to learn how LinkedIn uses Bing Maps Isochrone API, Bing Maps Autosuggest API, and Bing Maps Locations API to help its members find the right job.
For those of you still new to this whole “Hey,
Xbox Game Pass for PC is announcing more games” thing since you joined
us last month after our 3 months for $1 offer, I say welcome! We do this
regularly. To be honest, it’s pretty much our thing. We say here are what games
are coming, you play the games, you laugh at our jokes on Twitter, we laugh at your jokes about our jokes, you
laugh that we laugh that you laugh… it’s a pretty funny cycle. Let’s kick
that cycle off right now by telling you what games are coming next.
Coming Soon
to Xbox Game Pass for PC
Final Fantasy XV The Final Fantasy series is making its way to Xbox Game Pass for PC starting on February 6 with Final Fantasy XV! The highly anticipated next installment in the legendary series that defined storytelling and adventure in video games. Featuring action heavy combat, innovative gameplay, and immersive graphics that push the limits of modern hardware. Final Fantasy XV is an awe-inspiring tale that transports audiences into its vivid imagining of a fantasy world based in reality.
Death’s Gambit (ID@Xbox) The promise of immortality lies at the heart of Siradon in this challenging 2D action platformer with deep RPG elements. As Death’s right hand, challenge the undying guardians of the realm and endure the eternal struggle to purge their souls. But what reward awaits a faithful servant of Death?
Wolfenstein: Youngblood 19 years after the events of Wolfenstein II, BJ Blazkowicz has disappeared after a mission into Nazi-occupied Paris. Now, after years of training from their battle-hardened father, BJ’s twin daughters, Jess and Soph Blazkowicz, are forced into action. Team up with a friend or play alone to level up, explore, and complete missions to unlock new abilities, weapons, and more to complement your playstyle and customize your appearance in the most open-ended Wolfenstein experience to date.
In Case You Missed It
With over 100 games in the library, and new ones added all the time, we wanted to make sure you didn’t miss these recently added gems as well! Already available on PC, you can play Fishing Sim World: Pro Tour. And if you didn’t catch this one announced last week, starting tomorrow you can play the Game Preview version of ScourgeBringer!
Membership Benefits and Game Updates
ARK: Survival EvolvedValentine’s day event – February 11 -19 Love is in the air with their annual Valentine’s Day event. Mate tame dinosaurs and score chocolate rewards. Ahh, romance.
Bleeding Edge (Beta) – February 14 – 16 Happy Valentine’s Day! What more romantic way could you spend your holiday than by gathering a team of loved ones to make a 4v4 team and tear it up in an electrifying online brawler where every fighter comes mechanically enhanced for mayhem? They should make greeting cards just for this.
February 11 has some killer DLC coming at you. Reminder that you can use your membership to get up to 10% off DLC and add-ons while the related games are in our library!
Dead Cells DLC – The Bad Seed (Console and PC). Harvest a few souls with your new scythe! Play through The Arboretum, The Swamp, and The Heart of the Swamp.
Metro Exodus DLC – Sam’s Story (Console and PC). In this sandbox-survival expansion, forge Sam’s path on his journey through Vladivostok on his mission to find his way home to the USA, where he hopes to find his family – alive. Help Sam find his way away from the Aurora in search of a way back to the USA.
Going
through my list: New games are coming, check. Games you might have missed we
already announced, check. Other cool things happening in our games, check.
Don’t forget you can download the Mobile App to get a head
start and install your games while you’re out and remind your friends they can
also try 3 months of Xbox Game Pass for PC (Beta) for just $1! Check list
complete – have fun gaming!
Microsoft is playing a pivotal role as technology partner for Commonwealth Bank’s newly minted X15 Ventures which has been established to help the bank stay at the leading edge of Australia’s financial services sector.
Over the next five years CBA plans to work with 25 start ups through the wholly owned X15 Venture, creating valuable new services which will be available to its retail and business customers as well as to the broader market. Through the partnership with Microsoft, the start-ups that X15 selects to work with, are assured access to leading edge technology and expertise.
Speaking at the launch of X15 Ventures in Sydney, Microsoft Australia managing director Steven Worrall, said the partnership provides; “Broad access to all of the technologies inside our portfolio – and through direct engagement with our engineering teams, brings not only the best technology, but the best thinking to bear, so that X15 makes the right assessment at that point in time for each portfolio business.
“The sorts of technologies would include artificial intelligence, mixed reality, blockchain and other related technologies.”
He added that; “Our role will evolve – this is a partnership we have had with the bank for over 20 years. This is the latest incarnation of that partnership.”
CBA CEO Matt Comyn is steeped in that partnership having worked closely with Microsoft in the early 2000s when he was part of the team at the CBA which developed the ground-breaking CommSee customer relationship management system.
He noted that then, as now; “Clear digital and technology leadership is critical to the Commonwealth Bank. We see that at the heart of what we want to deliver for our customers strategically and for our people. The organisation is at its best when it is leading and bringing some exciting propositions to market.”
Comyn said that during the development of CommSee the bank worked closely with Microsoft, with bank executives spending time in Seattle, and the then Microsoft CEO Bill Gates visiting the bank in Sydney. “We got a lot of out of that – working with large scale organisations and being able to leverage some of the technology.” He added that he had discussed that partnership further with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in both the US and during his recent visit to Sydney.
Comyn said that X15 Ventures, which has partnered with KPMG High Growth Ventures as well as Microsoft, is now poised to; “Accelerate the pace of innovation for the bank, which is incredibly important. We want to see a dramatic increase in terms of what we can bring to market, benchmarking ourselves against some of the tech companies.”
He said that the creation of X15 Ventures ensured the bank would be far more than a passive investor in start up businesses, instead working closely with entrepreneurs to build and grow their organisations.
Toby Norton-Smith, who has been named as X15 Ventures’ managing director explained at the launch that the company was named in honour of NASA’s X-15 hypersonic rocket-powered aircraft which played a critical role in preparing astronauts for early space missions. In much the same way as the X-15 was launched from a B-52 aircraft which provided it with a 45,000-foot boost, X-15 Ventures has been launched from the Commonwealth Bank to provide it with a boost to tap “next generation solutions”.
As a wholly owned subsidiary, X-15 will have the financial and operational backing of the Commonwealth Bank. The ventures it works will have access to the bank’s financial muscle – but critically also, the opportunity to market their solutions to the bank’s 15 million-strong customer base.
By 2024 X15 Ventures hopes to have signed up 25 organisations, delivered a threefold funds return and signed up 3 million customers for innovative new services.
Trust, technology, transparency
X15 Ventures’ partnership with Microsoft assures its start up businesses have access to leading technology and expertise.
Steven Worrall said; “Perhaps the most important is the provision of a trusted platform. Our key role with all our customers and partners around the world is providing a platform on which they can build digital services that can be trusted, where customers can be assured that their data is secure, and we think that is vital for all of the X15 partners that we will be working with.
“We also bring to the table clarity in terms of our business model – we have no aspirations to be a participant in the payments industry, we don’t see ourselves as participating in the financial services industry more broadly.”
Worrall said that Microsoft was instead committed to continually investing in its digital solutions, security and trust.
The first two start ups which have been embraced into the X15 Ventures fold are Home-In, a service which brings together in one streamlined app, all the services that someone buying a new home would need to access, and Vonto – a free app for small business owners that allows them to bring together in one location all the information they need to run and optimise their business.
According to Comyn the clear intent of X15 Ventures and its industry partnerships is to “See a dramatic increase in what we can bring to market.”
Traffic congestion is a problem in cities all over the world. The U.N. Department of Economic and Social Affairs states that 68 percent of the world’s population will live in cities over the coming decades up from 55 percent today.1 As cities grow, congestion will get worse.
In Moscow, Russia, the average driver spends 210 hours a year waiting in traffic, while in Mexico City, Mexico, the average driver spends 218 a year in traffic. In Chicago, Illinois, the average driver is relatively lucky as they only spend 138 hours a year in traffic.2
One solution to traffic congestion is smart mobility. Smart mobility is the concept of connecting the elements of a city’s transportation system to the cloud. Data from each element—vehicles, traffic signals, people, roads, and maps—is collected, combined, and analyzed to optimize the flow of vehicles in the city.
If we drill down on how cities are using smart mobility to reduce traffic congestion today, we see best practices emerge. Let’s look at six key items that cities should embrace to enable smart mobility solutions.
To learn how Microsoft can help you get started with smart mobility, explore these resources.
Connected infrastructure
One criterion required to enable smart mobility to reduce traffic congestion is connected infrastructure. The different parts of a city’s transportation system need to be connected to the cloud: traffic lights, cars, buses, trains, bikes, people, maps, and even roads. This Internet of Things (IoT) approach allows location, speed, capacity, and other data to be collected, stored, and analyzed. Wilson Parking recently invested in connected infrastructure to decrease congestion for drivers using the new Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. The city of Taipai has launched an initiative to connect 150,000 streetlights.
Access to data
Another criterion is access to data. Cities continuously collect and produce large quantities of data for planning, production, and decision-making. Sharing this data with the private sector can help accelerate smart mobility solutions. The City of Denver creates a holistic data environment that brings together data from multiple siloed sources to meet its smart mobility goals. Helsinki, Finland, opened access to city GIS transportation data.
Alternative transportation
A third criterion is offering compelling options to the “one car, one driver” model. For smart mobility, alternative options would need to be connected to the cloud:
Bicycle commuting: ideal for commutes of a few miles
Carsharing: rent cars by the minute or by the hour
Ridesharing (carpooling): make use of the empty seats already in the system
On-demand ride services: use personal vehicles to offer transportation services
Buses and trains: reimagining existing transportation by integrating them into end-to-end trip plans, including how to travel the last mile home
Autonomous vehicles
A fourth criterion required to enable smart mobility to reduce traffic congestion is the evolution of autonomous vehicles. While still in development, autonomous vehicles are cars or trucks in which human drivers are not required. These vehicles use sensors and software to control, navigate, and drive the vehicle. The use of autonomous vehicles to reduce traffic congestion depends on public policy. For example, self-driving cars could connect transit hubs, provide public transit services to communities not currently served, and be used to improve public transportation.3
Traffic management
Traffic management is ultimately at the heart of reducing congestion. The new Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge is a modern-day marvel that has forever changed traffic patterns across one of Asia’s fast-growing areas. Recent estimates say daily volume on the world’s longest sea bridge will reach 29,100 vehicles by 2030 and 42,000 vehicles by 2037. Wilson Parking enables drivers to pre-book spaces on the bridge, resulting in smoother traffic flows. The City of Denver uses its capabilities to take a proactive approach to transportation optimizations, for example, by enabling real-time adjustments to traffic flows in the case of accidents or other disruptions.
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) Applications
Mobility as a Service (MaaS) applications complete the smart mobility picture. The vision of MaaS is to make it easier and less expensive for car drivers and passengers to travel via alternative forms of transportation. MaaS applications enable travelers to plan trips based on their priorities and preferences. Microsoft is working with companies like Moovit and TomTom to offer critical real-time data to MaaS application providers, enabling them to deliver compelling applications.
By connecting traffic lights, vehicles, people, and roads to the cloud, sharing data, embracing alternative modes of transportation, and building traffic management systems, cities like Hong Kong, Taipei, and Denver are experiencing success and leading the way for other cities. As travelers adopt MaaS applications, they will increasingly choose mass transit options over driving on their own. The advent of autonomous vehicles will eventually help reduce traffic congestion even further.
The RSA Conference 2020 kicks off in less than three weeks, and the Microsoft Security team can’t wait. This is one of our most important annual events because it provides an invaluable opportunity for us to connect with customers, partners, and other security thought leaders. New ideas are explored. Conventional thinking is challenged. For as important as technology is to cybersecurity, it’s the people doing this work, day in and day out, that truly inspire us.
The role of people in security will be a big theme in Microsoft’s presence at RSA Conference 2020. Our job as technologists is to build intelligent solutions that unleash defenders to do what they do best: creative problem solving. Artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are vital for strong cybersecurity and risk management, not because technology alone can defeat cyberattacks, but because these tools enable people to defend against emergent threats. In Microsoft’s two keynotes, 11 earned sessions, and 42 theater events, Microsoft security experts will share thoughts on how you can empower the heart of your security organization—your people—with AI, machine learning, and automation.
Here are a few highlights to help you plan your time.
Why your people are still your best cyber defense
Keynote speaker: Ann Johnson, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Cybersecurity Solutions Group
When: Wednesday, February 26
Time: 4:05 PM – 4:25 PM
Access to AI and machine learning, which is powered by the cloud, will mean the difference between struggle or success for modern organizations that defend against cybercriminals. But technology is not enough. The organizations that quickly recover from a cyberattack have another thing in common: an agile team that can problem solve under stress. It works because attackers haven’t prepared for the resilience of the human spirit. So how do you build a culture where people are your best defense? Ann will share some best practices at her keynote.
Collaborating to improve open source security: how the ecosystem is stepping up
Keynote speaker: Mark Russinovich, Chief Technology Officer, Azure
When: Friday, February 28
Time: 9:50 AM
The software supply chain is increasingly under attack. Bad actors attempt to insert malware at all points in the complex network of open source packages, spanning languages, operating systems, runtimes, and tools that make up modern software. But the story isn’t all bad news. Industry and the open-source community have come together to mitigate these threats and improve the security of open source software. This collaboration has produced new ideas for building trust in the supply chain for consumers and producers of software, large and small. Mark’s talk is a great opportunity for you to learn more about the future of supply chain security.
Zero Trust: the buzz, the myths and the facts
Earned session speaker: Bret Arsenault, CVP and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), Microsoft
When: Thursday, February 27
Time: 9:10 AM – 10:10 AM
Session code: STR-R02
“Zero Trust” is the biggest buzz-word in security since block chain, but what does it mean? Is there a consistent approach or definition? In this session, Bret will discuss what Zero Trust is (and what it isn’t) based on his real-world experience defining a Zero Trust strategy at Microsoft. And, as you’ve come to expect, he’ll give it to you straight. Carve out time for this event to get practical advice for applying Zero Trust to your own organization.
The Microsoft booth theater sessions
The Microsoft booth will be a buzz of activity. If you’re interested in learning about our platform investments, come to one—or several—of our 42 theater sessions. These presentations will dive into our solutions across Zero Trust, Identity & Access Management, Threat Protection, Information Protection & Compliance, and Cloud Security. Learn how our integrated solutions, with AI and machine learning built in, enable defenders to safeguard data, devices, apps, and people.
Or take on hacker “157” in our virtual reality escape room for a fun way to see how our solutions work together.
Microsoft will host a private awards ceremony to recognize partners in 16 award categories that span security integration partners, system integrators, and managed security service providers. These partners have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions and services during the past year. It will be an honor to celebrate their vision at this event.
Visit the Microsoft RSA Conference 2020 website to register and learn more about our featured speakers and sessions, so you can make the most of your time.
Also, bookmark the Security blog to keep up with our expert coverage on security matters and follow us at @MSFTSecurity for the latest news and updates on cybersecurity.
