Following a major cyberattack last year that saw China-linked hackers infiltrate the US Department of State’s network, the agency has expanded its cybersecurity efforts beyond its reliance on Microsoft. This reinforcement of the defence strategy comes after the breach compromised around 60,000 State Department emails, including those of high-profile officials like Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
Criticism was directed at Microsoft, with the Cyber Safety Review Board questioning the company’s transparency regarding the incident. Kelly Fletcher, the department’s chief information officer, highlighted concerns about the security of corporate networks, emphasizing the importance of all vendors ensuring secure systems.