News and perspectives on the future of tech, public policy and philanthropic topics for #Microsoft. ➡️ https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/
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Teachers are the heart of every classroom. As AI changes how we learn and work, it’s imperative that we partner with educators. Through Microsoft Elevate Washington, we’re providing tools, training, and trusted guardrails, so AI becomes a force for opportunity in every community. https://lnkd.in/et-f_s4j Camille Jones, Alicen Gaytley
The cyber threat landscape is constantly shifting—marked by speed, complexity, and disruption. This year’s Microsoft Digital Defense Report paints a clear picture: attackers are leveraging AI, targeting identities, and adapting tactics across every sector. As organizations and defenders navigate these changes, the need for resilience, intelligence sharing, and coordinated response is more urgent than ever. Our report highlights that most attacks are financially motivated, with adversaries targeting identities to access sensitive data. Governments were among the most impacted, largely due to the volume of personally identifiable information (PII) they store—data that fuels future attacks. Nation-state actors, meanwhile, focus on espionage against critical sectors. Ransomware and credential theft remain persistent risks. Understanding the evolving threat environment is essential for building effective defenses. Explore the report for more data-driven insights and guidance. https://msft.it/6047s7TwN
Did you know cement and concrete are two totally different things? We recently held our annual Climate Innovation Fund (CIF) Summit, providing a unique opportunity for global leaders, innovators, and partners to connect, share ideas, and unite to scale breakthrough solutions for a sustainable future in the AI-driven economy. We decided to ask a few attendees: “What’s one climate innovation you wish more people knew about?” Their answers: game-changing tech and fresh ideas with real potential to shape a sustainable future. Featuring leaders from Energy Impact Partners, Molg, Concrete Transition Capital, Charm Industrial, and Heirloom.
The volume of cyber threats is growing exponentially. At the same time, attackers remain primarily motivated by financial gain—leveraging ransomware, extortion, and data theft to disrupt operations and demand payment. As AI accelerates attacker capabilities, it will become even more imperative for defenders to incorporate AI to match the threat. Microsoft processes more than 100 trillion security signals daily, offering deep visibility into emerging threats. This year’s Microsoft Digital Defense Report examines these shifts in detail, providing data-driven insights and practical recommendations for organizations navigating today’s environment. Key findings include: ● Government agencies, IT, research and academia saw the highest levels of cyber threats in 2025. ● Over half of cyberattacks resulted in extortion or ransomware. ● Most attacks were financially motivated; only 4% focused solely on espionage. ● MFA blocks 99% of unauthorized access attempts, making it a top defense. Resilience and collaboration are essential. As organizations strengthen identity protection, invest in security awareness, and build adaptive defense strategies, global partnerships remain critical to safeguarding economic stability and individual safety. Explore more of our report for a comprehensive analysis of emerging threats and actionable guidance. https://msft.it/6045sfMub
Microsoft TechSpark partners with students, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and workers to build future-ready economies across the US. From workforce skilling to AI adoption, TechSpark is helping expand access to digital tools, create jobs, and strengthen local ecosystems. Since 2017, TechSpark has supported local leaders and through the TechSpark Fellows, to unlock opportunities in underserved communities, demonstrating that inclusive innovation is possible anywhere. ⬇️ Learn more about TechSpark and its impact➡️ https://msft.it/6046s4czi
AI offers a major opportunity to improve cancer diagnostics by enabling faster and more accurate detection, helping doctors deliver better care to more people. However, there’s a gap between impressive AI research results and their practical use in real-world clinical settings. Microsoft is tackling these barriers head-on. Through open collaboration with medical experts, responsible innovation, and transparent methodologies, we’re building AI solutions that clinicians can trust—and patients can benefit from.
Microsoft’s threat analysts and digital crimes specialists are leading efforts to track and understand the evolution of Cybercrime-as-a-Service (CaaS). By monitoring global trends and sharing insights, Microsoft helps organizations and individuals recognize new risks and strengthen their security strategies. Cybercrime-as-a-Service is changing how threat actors operate. Organized groups now use the same tools and practices as technology companies, making cybercrime more accessible and efficient. Specialized vendors sell packaged tools and services on encrypted platforms and dark web marketplaces. Phishing-as-a-Service kits can be rented for as little as fifty dollars per month, allowing anyone to launch attacks without technical expertise. Read more about the risks and what you can do to stay alert: https://msft.it/6041sNPm3
No single organization can solve climate challenges alone. We need public-private partnerships, peer-to-peer learning, and cross-sector alliances to create the market conditions and workforce pipelines that benefit the planet, communities, and businesses. In this issue of Sustainably Speaking, our CSO Melanie Nakagawa and Noelle Walsh, President of Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation, share how these principles come to life in Wisconsin at our new AI datacenter: 🔌Energy: Fully funding our datacenter’s energy needs by working with the local utility to ensure that we are responsible for all of the costs of energy and new related infrastructure to serve our datacenter operations and matching all fossil power with carbon-free sources, including a new 250 MW solar project and a $20M community fund launching in 2027. 💧Water: A closed-loop liquid cooling system recirculates water to cool over 90% of servers, keeping annual usage as low as a typical restaurant. 👥 Community impact: Creating jobs and launching tech training programs. Across Microsoft, partners and teams are leading the way for a more sustainable digital future. Read the latest edition to learn how we’re building datacenters with sustainability and community front and center.
When used responsibly, AI opens new possibilities for creativity, connection, and safety. Unfortunately, some actors are misusing AI to create harmful content and threaten digital trust, putting individuals and communities at risk. Microsoft is taking a comprehensive approach to protect people from abusive AI-generated content. Through robust AI safety measures, collaboration across industries, advocating for new policies, and taking legal action, we’re working to prevent the misuse of our platforms and advancing online safety. Learn more about our commitments to safety, responsible AI, and protecting our users. https://msft.it/6042sLqoO
Cyber mercenaries are changing the landscape of digital risk, enabling sophisticated attacks that reach far beyond traditional targets. Their services are fueling a growing ecosystem where advanced intrusion capabilities are more accessible than ever. Research and academic institutions have become prime testing grounds for new attack techniques, making them a critical front line in the effort to protect innovation and safeguard sensitive information. The lessons learned here often shape the security posture of organizations everywhere. Addressing this challenge requires a united response. Collaboration across industry and government is essential to disrupt the market for cyber mercenary services and strengthen the resilience of our connected world.