What Company is Best Positioned to Deliver the Next Breakthrough Security Application

[Eddie Morra]

Only Microsoft has the keys to the OS. They are in the best position to do something that others can't.

Microsoft have to tread carefully because they cannot do anything they want with their OS anymore because of how widely used it is and the business it provides for millions of other people (e.g. all the AV vendors). Microsoft have been sued in the past for certain behaviours, they walk with more care now.

Microsoft do the same things as third-party AVs do from their own documented techniques anyway. They have some hidden things, but such is offered to third-party AVs through features like ELAM. It's been this way for a long time.

If Microsoft did certain things which killed off the competition, they'd have more lawsuits than employees by the AM of the next morning. And they'd lose a hell of a lot of them.

Microsoft are partnered with a lot of AV vendors through several different partnership programmes anyway - they work together by sharing certain resources/intelligence. Microsoft are focused more on Enterprise security (even if their documentation sucks) and Windows Defender for home was always meant to be basic and simple.

The AV industry isn't going to die because a lot of people want fancy features they cannot get with Windows Defender alone. More often than not, the average Joe will just want a full suite to take care of everything for him/her. As for Enterprise, not many people will put up with the lack of documentation from Microsoft, and existing Enterprises will probably have more experience with other third-parties, so third-party AV vendors still keep business for the big bucks.

In the end, everyone is happy. Microsoft stay rich regardless of how Windows Defender (for Enterprises) goes and third-party AV vendors stay rich because they keep a majority of market share (including from paid customers).

 

[shmu26]

Microsoft have to tread carefully because they cannot do anything they want with their OS anymore because of how widely used it is and the business it provides for millions of other people (e.g. all the AV vendors). Microsoft have been sued in the past for certain behaviours, they walk with more care now.

Microsoft do the same things as third-party AVs do from their own documented techniques anyway. They have some hidden things, but such is offered to third-party AVs through features like ELAM. It's been this way for a long time.

If Microsoft did certain things which killed off the competition, they'd have more lawsuits than employees by the AM of the next morning. And they'd lose a hell of a lot of them.

Microsoft are partnered with a lot of AV vendors through several different partnership programmes anyway - they work together by sharing certain resources/intelligence. Microsoft are focused more on Enterprise security (even if their documentation sucks) and Windows Defender for home was always meant to be basic and simple.

The AV industry isn't going to die because a lot of people want fancy features they cannot get with Windows Defender alone. More often than not, the average Joe will just want a full suite to take care of everything for him/her. As for Enterprise, not many people will put up with the lack of documentation from Microsoft, and existing Enterprises will probably have more experience with other third-parties, so third-party AV vendors still keep business for the big bucks.

In the end, everyone is happy. Microsoft stay rich regardless of how Windows Defender (for Enterprises) goes and third-party AV vendors stay rich because they keep a majority of market share (including from paid customers).

1 MS has learned over the years how to kill off the competition in such gentle and subtle ways that they don't get sued (usually).
2 I agree with you that they are focused on Enterprise security, because they can charge big bucks. And the expenses will surely filter down to the consumers, who will pay higher prices for products/services.

 

[509322]

Microsoft have to tread carefully because they cannot do anything they want with their OS anymore because of how widely used it is and the business it provides for millions of other people (e.g. all the AV vendors). Microsoft have been sued in the past for certain behaviours, they walk with more care now.

Microsoft do the same things as third-party AVs do from their own documented techniques anyway. They have some hidden things, but such is offered to third-party AVs through features like ELAM. It's been this way for a long time.

If Microsoft did certain things which killed off the competition, they'd have more lawsuits than employees by the AM of the next morning. And they'd lose a hell of a lot of them.

Microsoft are partnered with a lot of AV vendors through several different partnership programmes anyway - they work together by sharing certain resources/intelligence. Microsoft are focused more on Enterprise security (even if their documentation sucks) and Windows Defender for home was always meant to be basic and simple.

The AV industry isn't going to die because a lot of people want fancy features they cannot get with Windows Defender alone. More often than not, the average Joe will just want a full suite to take care of everything for him/her. As for Enterprise, not many people will put up with the lack of documentation from Microsoft, and existing Enterprises will probably have more experience with other third-parties, so third-party AV vendors still keep business for the big bucks.

In the end, everyone is happy. Microsoft stay rich regardless of how Windows Defender (for Enterprises) goes and third-party AV vendors stay rich because they keep a majority of market share (including from paid customers).

This person knows what they're talking about.

The comment about home users wanting a soft to do it for them is spot on. (Unfortunately, a lot of enterprise admins are naive and want and expect the same thing. The whole enterprise security space is really messed-up.)

The comment about Enterprises sick and tired of Microsoft's non-existent documentation is spot on.

The comment about Enterprises not wanting to deal with Microsoft's enterprise-level security is spot on. Why ? Because the costs, the lack of documentation and the consequential administrative overhead of Windows is massive.

Some would argue "Well, it's an admin's job to deal with this stuff." Increasingly, admins just don't want to hear it. There has been discontent with Microsoft and its Windows garbage for decades. If you get into their server products, it is an even more obnoxious, oppressive mess.

 

[Dave Russo]

Maybe we will see a "V" type of scenario,where someone comes up with a virus {themselves} that no one else can stop,untill the founder lol becomes the hero with the cure,and of course rakes everyone they can ,who will buy there new state of the art product.

 

[shmu26]

Maybe we will see a "V" type of scenario,where someone comes up with a virus {themselves} that no one else can stop,untill the founder lol becomes the hero with the cure,and of course rakes everyone they can ,who will buy there new state of the art product.

I think that is in fact what Microsoft is trying to do. They created powershell, and MS Office docs, and now they are "saving" us from Frankenstein with their expensive corporate security solutions. If you can't afford them, that's your problem.

 

[Sunshine-boy]

Eset, TrendMicro and Symantec.

 

[509322]

"Microsoft is destined to be the Windows security leader."

 

[Sunshine-boy]

all have similiar protection techique

No! check TrendMicro and Symantec products : ) all don't use the same technics.
for Symantec :
Endpoint Protection Deception
https://www.symantec.com/content/dam/symantec/docs/white-papers/a-look-at-deception-en.pdf
for TrendMicro:
TippingPoint Threat Protection System | Trend Micro

 

[Burrito]

Maybe Obsidian Security or Awake Security.

 

[DeepWeb]

Maybe we will see a "V" type of scenario,where someone comes up with a virus {themselves} that no one else can stop,untill the founder lol becomes the hero with the cure,and of course rakes everyone they can ,who will buy there new state of the art product.

You mean Windows Update and how it wiped out people's Documents folder with the latest upgrade? Now that is malware by definition.
Or how Apple got caught crippling their older phone CPUs? They create the problem then sell us the solution.

 

[Local Host]

I say Kaspersky, they been at the top no stop and always make improvements in the long run. Right now Kaspersky covers all attack vectors and is extremely light.

You mean Windows Update and how it wiped out people's Documents folder with the latest upgrade? Now that is malware by definition.
Or how Apple got caught crippling their older phone CPUs? They create the problem then sell us the solution.

Unrelated, a simple bug that enabled the Profile Deletion policy on a few machines.

 

[DeepWeb]

Unrelated, a simple bug that enabled the Profile Deletion policy on a few machines.

Eh you're right. The definition of malware is something that was intentionally written cause damage to a computer. But Apple is still not off the hook for what they did. That being said, Microsoft really sucks at QA testing.

 

[Eddie Morra]

That being said, Microsoft really sucks at QA testing.

The users are the testers. That is literally the reality of it now. It's been like this for a few years. They dropped tons of QA testing resources when they released Windows 10 and brought in the Windows Insider thing instead.

It's why there are different update cycles so businesses can delay for many months to stay on the safe side while the rest on the normal cycles test things and take the fall for screw ups.

 

[LDogg]

The users are the testers. That is literally the reality of it now. It's been like this for a few years. They dropped tons of QA testing resources when they released Windows 10 and brought in the Windows Insider thing instead.

It's why there are different update cycles so businesses can delay for many months to stay on the safe side while the rest on the normal cycles test things and take the fall for screw ups.

So another words the hoke user who may have important personal files are subjected to being guinea pigs before the corporations have OS updates. Definitely need to change their (Microsoft's) business approach. But they never will do.

~LDogg

 

[Ink]

Maybe I did not understand the question, but if it's about imnovation. The only one that has that capacity would be Microsoft. And if it is a country, it would be the United States. Without any doubt on my part.

These giants gobble up small innovative companies from outside of the USA. Take a look at acquisitions by Alphabet, Facebook, Microsoft, Symantec etc.

Truth be told, Israel is on my radar.

 

[Eddie Morra]

So another words the hoke user who may have important personal files are subjected to being guinea pigs before the corporations have OS updates.

That's exactly what I meant. Spot on.

And we can see this is the case time and time again. I mean, look at what has literally just happened in the recent month.

 

[LDogg]

That's exactly what I meant. Spot on.

And we can see this is the case time and time again. I mean, look at what has literally just happened in the recent month.

Very true. It's like a roundabout.

~LDogg

 

[Local Host]

Eh you're right. The definition of malware is something that was intentionally written cause damage to a computer. But Apple is still not off the hook for what they did. That being said, Microsoft really sucks at QA testing.

I honestly don't use Apple Products, so I can't pronounce myself on their policies.
I know Microsoft QA Department is a joke, since the whole Insider Program was introduced.

The users are the testers. That is literally the reality of it now. It's been like this for a few years. They dropped tons of QA testing resources when they released Windows 10 and brought in the Windows Insider thing instead.

It's why there are different update cycles so businesses can delay for many months to stay on the safe side while the rest on the normal cycles test things and take the fall for screw ups.

Even though Microsoft makes use of the Insider Program, they still have a QA Department, and there are builds being tested internally that Insiders never get to see.

 

[bribon77]

Truth be told, Israel is on my radar.

Also in mine, I think they are also capable of innovating.

 

[Kubla]

If Cylance does well in the home arena I would expect companies like Carbon Black, SentinelOne, CrowdStrike etc... to get their feet wet with home solutions based off their enterprise products.

I think AI based solutions are the future, and the next big breakthroughs will be AI based.

With so many internet connected devices in the home today I think endpoint solutions for home networks where all your devices protected by the same AV solution and all can be monitored and updated at a central location like a cloud based dashboard will be where the market heads.