Microsoft acquires ReFirm Labs for IoT security bolstering

IoT operations just got a little more secure.

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What you need to know

Microsoft has acquired ReFirm Labs to help protect its firmware “across devices that form the intelligent edge.” This edge is made up of everything from servers to the Internet of Things. However, Microsoft’s not only looking to get firmware security expertise out of the acquisition; it’s also aiming to score a company with the skills to handle the Centrifuge firmware platform.

The full announcement can be seen atMicrosoft’s site, though a few choice paragraphs highlight the core of the deal. Here’s an excerpt from the announcement to give you an idea of why the tech giant gobbled up ReFirm Labs:

“Microsoft believes that firmware is not a future threat, but an imperative to secure now as more devices flood the market and expand the available attack surface. We are committed to helping customers protect from these sophisticated threats now and in the future, which is why we’re announcing that we have acquired ReFirm Labs.”

Microsoft also included a handy infographic that outlines the benefits ReFirm Labs brings to the table.

Microsoft claims this acquisition will help it with the eight-trillion-plus security signals it processes every single day. With that many signals, one would imagine it will need all the assistance it can get.

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Robert Carnevale is the News Editor for Windows Central. He’s a big fan of Kinect (it lives on in his heart), Sonic the Hedgehog, and the legendary intersection of those two titans, Sonic Free Riders. He is the author ofCold War 2395. Have a useful tip? Send it to robert.carnevale@futurenet.com.