Barclays partners with Microsoft to enhance digital security

Barclays has announced a new collaboration with Microsoft to use Microsoft Security Solutions to bolster its security strategy and enhance trust in its digital capabilities.

As emerging artificial intelligence (AI) technologies introduce both opportunities and risks, this partnership will see Barclays expand and automate its security detection systems. The bank aims to leverage telemetry opportunities to ensure the safety and security of its colleagues, customers, and clients while maintaining consistent service availability.

This agreement continues Barclays' digital transformation journey. In 2022, Barclays adopted Microsoft Teams as its preferred collaboration platform, integrating it deeply into its organisational workflow.

Oliver Newbury, Barclays' Group Chief Information Security Officer, emphasised the evolving landscape of customer expectations and the need for elevated technological performance standards to build digital trust. He stated, “Customer expectations continue to rise as digital leaders pursue higher standards of technology performance to differentiate, setting a higher bar for digital trust."

Newbury further elaborated on the benefits of collaborating with Microsoft, noting, “Working with Microsoft will support us to better detect, investigate, respond to, and protect against security threats.”

Theo Michalopoulos, General Manager for Financial Services at Microsoft UK, highlighted the growing complexity and scale of cybersecurity threats faced by organisations. “We are witnessing a rise in increasingly sophisticated and expansive cybersecurity attacks. It’s imperative that organisations meet this challenge head-on,” Michalopoulos said.

Michalopoulos also discussed the role of advanced technologies in addressing these challenges. “The adoption of powerful AI, machine learning, and defence-in-depth capabilities will better enable firms from all industries to detect threats and collaborate safely, while meeting emerging regulatory requirements in this new era of AI,” he mentioned.

Barclays, headquartered in London, UK, is a global financial institution with operations in over 40 countries. Founded in 1690 as a goldsmith banking business, Barclays has evolved into a full-service bank known for innovations like introducing the UK's first ATM in 1967. It offers a wide range of financial services, including retail and investment banking, wealth management, and corporate banking, emphasising innovation and customer service in its operations worldwide.