New Delhi, August 6: Microsoft has reportedly taken a significant step to ensure the safety of its devices and services by linking employee performance to their contributions to security efforts. The new strategy of Microsoft highlights the importance of security in all roles within the company. As per reports, Microsoft employees are now required to prioritise security measures with their career growth and compensation being directly influenced by their security-related achievements.

As per a report of The Verge, every Microsoft employee is now being judged on their security work. An internal memo reportedly circulated among Microsoft employees was detailed by Microsoft's Chief People Officer, Kathleen Hogan. The memo outlines that neglecting security measures could impact employees' promotion opportunities, bonuses and salary increases, as per a report of Times Now. The new policy extends beyond compliance, requiring employees to document their impact on security in their performance reviews. ‘Microsoft Fired Me in 2005 and It Made Me Confront My Fears, Re-evaluate My Goals and Find More Aligned Path’: Scintillate CEO Kapil Kulshreshtha.

Kathleen Hogan said “Everyone at Microsoft will have security as a Core Priority.” Every employee at Microsoft are required to use the company's Connect tool for their performance evaluations. It is important for every Microsoft employee to fulfill their security responsibilities and contribute to the success of the company.

Why Microsoft is Prioritising its Security Strategy

The changes in Microsoft's security strategy is said to be a response to a series of security incidents. Earlier this year, the company faced criticism because of various security issues, which led to a complete review of its internal policies. The need for these changes became even more clear after a major security breach last year, where hackers from China reportedly took advantage of a vulnerability in Microsoft Cloud. The breach had a significant impact, which affected the email accounts of 22 organisations, including government agencies in the United States and impacting over 500 individuals. Microsoft Cash Award: Tech Giant Announces up to 25% of Annual Bonus for Employees; Check Details and Know Why.

Microsoft is also enhancing security and user experience by phasing out Basic Authentication for personal Outlook accounts and discontinuing the simplified version of the Outlook web app on August 19. Starting from September 16, users of Hotmail, Outlook, and Live.com will likely access their email accounts through apps that support Modern Authentication, which could also affect some third-party email apps and older versions of Outlook, Thunderbird and Apple Mail.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 06, 2024 05:10 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).