By Catherine Morin
Microsoft this week announced a partnership with Terranova Security, a Quebec-based company specialized in cybersecurity awareness.
Founded in 2001, Terranova designs training programs to help organizations worldwide reduce the human risk factor and effectively counter cyber attacks.
Its course catalogue, phishing simulations, online resources, and awareness communication tools span over 1,000 programs in 40 languages.
The partnership will allow Microsoft to integrate these resources with Microsoft Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection (Office 365 ATP), its cloud-based email filtering service designed to protect organizations against malware and viruses.
“Human error remains the most significant cybersecurity threat to businesses,” explained chief executive officer for Terranova Security, Lise Lapointe.
While many organizations employ highly sophisticated tools to prevent cyberattacks, very few invest sufficiently in awareness and training programs, she deplored.
Terranova aims to build a more cyber aware culture by focusing on education and providing employees with the right tools and support to change their mindset.
“Employees need training and simulations that establish a new thought pattern around managing emails. A combined approach of security awareness training and phishing simulations allows people to apply the lessons they learn in real-world scenarios, which helps reinforce new response patterns,” specified Lapointe.
According to her, it is this core focus on human-centric training that cemented the partnership with Microsoft.
Rob Lefferts, corporate vice-president, Microsoft 365 Security, confirmed that users falling to phishing is one of the most common and impactful risks facing their customers.
“The partnership with Terranova enables us to deliver differentiated phishing simulation and human-centric training capabilities,” he declared in a press release.
“The automation and integration built into Office 365 ATP will leverage and target phish training content to deliver a seamless, context-aware and engaging user experience,” added the tech giant in a blog post.
Insights generated from the integration will flow into analytics and recommendations to help users customize and differentiate phishing simulation for optimal effect within their organizations.
The Redmond-based company also stated in its blog post that Terranova shared Microsoft’s commitment to diverse and inclusive practices.
“Microsoft strives to serve customers from all over the world, with different perspectives and needs. Terranova Security’s focus on diversity and inclusion bolsters our ability to deliver industry-leading experiences for all our customers.”
Lapointe reckons that the integration with Office 365 ATP will extend Terranova’s reach, allowing more companies worldwide to create cyber-secure cultures.
“Microsoft’s technology and platform enrich us with intelligent insights to develop training on the most recent and relevant risks. This partnership empowers Terranova to provide human-centric resources at maximum scale and efficacy,” she said.