Microsoft joins coalition to prevent ransomware attacks

Microsoft will work with other large organizations to combat ransomware.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is among 19 organizations to found the Ransomware Task Force.
• The Ransomware Task Force is made up of security firms, tech companies, and non-profits.
• The goal is to create a standardized framework to deal with ransomware attacks.

Microsoft, McAfee, and 17 other organizations have come together to form a Ransomware Task Force (RTF) (via ZDNet). The new RTF is made up of security firms, tech companies, and non-profits with a shared goal of combatting ransomware. The group will work to assess current solutions that people and organizations can use to protect against ransomware attacks.

The RTF will look at existing solutions, find security gaps, and work on a roadmap to plan a defense against ransomware. The RTF will commission expert papers from a wide range of industries and work with stakeholders as well.

The RTF should yield a standardized framework for handling ransomware attacks. The framework would be based on the input of several organizations, rather than different groups attacking the problem individually.

The founding members of the RTF are:

• Aspen Digital
• Citrix
• The Cyber Threat Alliance
• Cybereason
• The CyberPeace Institute
• The Cybersecurity Coalition
• The Global Cyber Alliance
• McAfee
• Microsoft
• Rapid7
• Resilience
• SecurityScorecard
• Shadowserver Foundation
• Stratigos Security
• Team Cymru
• Third Way
• UT Austin Stauss Center
• Venable LLP

"Ransomware incidents have been growing unchecked, and this economically destructive cybercrime has increasingly led to dangerous, physical consequences," says the Institute for Security + Technology in a blog post. "This crime transcends sectors and requires bringing all affected stakeholders to the table to synthesize a clear framework of actionable solutions, which is why IST and our coalition of partners are launching this Task Force for a two-to-three month sprint."

The Ransomware Task Force website will launch in January 2021 and will include its full membership and leadership roles.