Microsoft made their Copilot for Security tool generally available on April 1, 2024. With its advancements in speed and scalability, this generative AI-powered cybersecurity assistant is poised to revolutionize cybersecurity.

Understanding Microsoft Copilot for Security

Microsoft Copilot for Security represents a significant leap forward in AI-driven cybersecurity. Leveraging cutting-edge AI technologies, Security Copilot enables organizations to swiftly respond to cyberthreats, process signals with machine-like speed, and assess risk exposure in mere minutes. What sets Security Copilot apart is its integration of a specialized language model with security-specific capabilities, informed by a vast reservoir of global threat intelligence and over 65 trillion daily signals.

While AI has allowed enterprises to drive advanced data analysis, communication, and operational efficiency, it has also enabled threat actors to conduct more sophisticated cyberattacks. Cybercriminals now use the power of AI to achieve their ends more effectively. AI can enhance existing tactics and enables new types of attacks, which is why security leaders must evolve their defenses quickly, and Microsoft Security Copilot can help make that possible.

Seamless Integration With Microsoft Security Ecosystem

The only prerequisite for obtaining Microsoft Copilot for Security is an Azure account. However, to maximize the value of Copilot for Security, it's recommended to connect Microsoft Security tools and integrate other security tools within an organization’s infrastructure. This comprehensive security system helps enable Copilot for Security to provide the most accurate insights and guidance.

Copilot seamlessly integrates with a suite of Microsoft Security products, including Microsoft Defender XDR, Sentinel, Intune, Entra ID, Purview, and Defender for External Attack Surface Management. By harnessing data and signals from these tools, Copilot generates tailored guidance, empowering organizations to effectively strengthen their security posture.

Integrating Microsoft Copilot for Security into your existing infrastructure helps maximize its benefits. Whether standalone or embedded within Microsoft Security products, Copilot for Security offers a tailored experience for each organizational need.

• Standalone Experience: The standalone experience grants teams broader context for remediation within Copilot for Security, and also enhances cross-product guidance and streamlined incident management.
• Embedded Experience: The embedded experience offers the convenience of accessing Copilot for Security guidance natively within existing Microsoft Security products. This integration allows a seamless workflow and enhances productivity for security teams.

Measuring ROI With Microsoft Copilot for Security

Measuring the return on investment (ROI) of Microsoft Copilot for Security should involve assessing its impact on key metrics such as threat detection efficiency, incident response time, and skill advancement. By leveraging Copilot for Security's advanced capabilities, organizations can enhance their cybersecurity posture, mitigate risks, and ultimately safeguard their assets and reputation. According to Microsoft, top metrics to compare could include mean time to respond (MTTR), incidents worked per day, or average incident resolution time.

Additionally, making sure your Microsoft licensing spend is optimized prior to obtaining Security Copilot can help boost ROI further. Reduction in licensing costs can allow for reallocation of resources to tools like these. BDO Digital’s Active Insights can help organizations thoroughly understand their licensing usage, identify areas for optimization, and surface impactful security insights. During this Security Copilot rollout, BDO Digital is offering a licensing health check for free so that organizations can make an informed decision.

Realizing Tangible Benefits

The benefits of adopting Microsoft Copilot for Security:

• Enhanced Threat Detection: Copilot for Security leverages AI to summarize data signals into high-level insights, allowing organizations to detect cyber threats ahead of time and proactively reinforce their security.
• Improved Response Time: Copilot for Security enables organizations to respond to incidents in a matter of minutes rather than hours or days, outpacing adversaries and helping to minimizing potential damage.
• Skill Advancement: Copilot for Security empowers both new and seasoned security analysts by providing step-by-step guidance and reducing the manual, repetitive tasks. This allows junior staff to advance their skills while enabling senior staff to focus on higher priorities.
• Comprehensive Coverage: With integrations across the Microsoft Security Stack, Copilot for Security offers end-to-end support for security analysts, from incident summaries to post-response activity reports. This 24/7 coverage with escalation to team members only after the initial triage allows organizations to manage cyber threats across various vectors.

The Future of Cybersecurity Starts Here

Microsoft Copilot for Security represents a significant advancement in AI-driven cybersecurity technology. By leveraging the power of AI, organizations can enhance their threat detection capabilities, improve incident response times, and empower security teams at all levels. With seamless integration across the Microsoft Security Stack and a focus on delivering actionable insights, Copilot for Security is poised to become a valuable tool for businesses seeking to stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.