Microsoft and CrowdStrike to Collaborate on Windows Security Event in September

Microsoft has announced a significant Windows security event set for September, featuring CrowdStrike, in response to the substantial Windows outage experienced in July due to a problematic update from the cybersecurity firm.

Scheduled for September 10, the event, named the Windows Endpoint Security Ecosystem Summit, will be held at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington. This initiative comes after the major Windows disruption in July, which resulted from a faulty update issued by CrowdStrike.

Aidan Marcuss, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President for Windows and Devices, detailed in a blog post that the summit will bring together Microsoft, CrowdStrike, and key industry partners involved in endpoint security. The focus will be on enhancing resilience and protecting critical infrastructure for their mutual customers.

“The event aims to explore actionable strategies to enhance security and resilience for our joint customer base,” Marcuss wrote.

CrowdStrike expressed its anticipation in a statement provided to CRN, noting their eagerness to contribute to discussions with Microsoft, industry experts, and government representatives about creating a more robust security ecosystem.

Marcuss highlighted that the July outage serves as a crucial learning opportunity for the security community. The summit will address improvements in security practices, safe deployment methods, and collaborative efforts to better serve customers both now and in the future.

Additionally, Microsoft plans to involve government officials to ensure transparency and foster collaborative efforts to enhance technology security and reliability.

Marcuss expects the Windows Endpoint Security Ecosystem Summit to result in both immediate and long-term initiatives aimed at improving security and resilience.

Following the outage on July 19, which led to widespread issues including the “blue screen of death” on 8.5 million Windows devices, Microsoft’s John Cable emphasized the necessity for innovation in end-to-end resilience and closer collaboration with partners. He also discussed the role of third-party access to the Windows kernel, which was a significant factor in the incident, and mentioned new capabilities designed to support tamper-resistant development practices without relying on kernel mode drivers.

The July outage had broad consequences, disrupting air travel, healthcare, and other sectors, with estimated costs to major corporations potentially reaching billions. In response, CrowdStrike has committed to enhanced testing and phased updates to prevent future issues.