Microsoft’s free pass from government accountability

In recent years,  Microsoft has weathered a storm of cybersecurity breaches, yet their standing as a cornerstone of the US government's IT infrastructure seems to have shielded them from any serious consequences. 

In the wake of yet another system breach by foreign government hackers, Microsoft's near immunity from public recriminations or government accountability was on full display. 

A recent report by the Cyber Safety Review Board, a consortium of industry and governmental experts, criticised  Microsoft for their failure to prevent one of their most significant hacking incidents in recent years and claims that the company's security culture is inadequate.

Their seemingly untouchable status can be attributed to their integral role in the operations of the US government; from drafting documents to regular communications, and their deep involvement in cyber defense initiatives. 

Despite ongoing criticism and warnings about Microsoft's monopoly – sometimes referred to as a 'monoculture' – and the associated national security risks, there appears to be little impetus for change. 

As an attempt to disrupt this status quo, Senator Ron Wyden proposed draft legislation, aiming to end the government's reliance on Microsoft's collaborative technologies within four years. 

Experts believe that it’s time for the government to diversify its vendor dependency. This move could not only benefit the government but would also distribute the attack risk among multiple companies, potentially allowing Microsoft to address imminent issues that it is distinctly capable of solving.

However, for now, the tech giant continues to enjoy its privileged position.

- CyberBeat