The Banking Executive Magazine, Issue 154, October 2021

Windows 11 and prime targets for cybercrimi- nals and they have been an impor- tant part of digital security for years. That changes with the pass- wordless protection available with Windows 11. After a secure author- ization process, credentials are protected behind layers of hard- ware and software security, giving users secure, passwordless access to their apps and cloud services. Individual users can remove the password from their Microsoft ac- count and use the Microsoft Au- thenticator app, Windows Hello, a security key, a smart card, or a ver- ification code sent to their phone or email. IT administrators and consumers can set up Windows 11 devices as passwordless out-of-the- box, taking advantage of technolo- gies such as Windows Hello in alignment with Fast Identity Online (FIDO) standards. Windows 11 protects credentials with chip-level hardware security including Trust Platform Module TPM 2.0 com- bined with VBS and Microsoft Cre- dential Guard. • Connecting to cloud services: Windows 11 security extends zero- trust all the way to the cloud, enabling policies, controls, proce- dures, and technologies that work together to protect devices, data, applications, and identities from anywhere. Microsoft offers com- prehensive cloud services for iden- tity, storage and access management in addition to the tools to attest that any Windows device connecting to the network is trustworthy. Compliance and conditional access is enforced with a modern device management (MDM) service such as Microsoft Intune that works with Azure Ac- tive Directory to control access to applications and data through the cloud. WINDOWS 11 FOR BANKS AND BUSINESSES The big change for bank and busi- nesses in Windows 11 is commerce and security. Microsoft is expanding in five key areas of interest to banks and busi- nesses: • Hybrid work • New commerce opportunities in the Microsoft Store • A low IT learning curve for deploy- ment and management • Beefed up security across devices and the cloud • New tools and an easier Windows 11 application process for develop- ers • Some Subtle Hybrid Work Features the BANKING EXECUTIVE 36 ISSUE 154 OCTOBER 2021 Figure 5: Layers of protection and security priorities for Windows 11. (Source Microsoft Book and Guide on Windows 11 Security)