Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Stock: Strengthens Cybersecurity with Graph-Powered Threat Detection

Microsoft ($MSFT) closed at $477.40 as it introduced the Business Exposure Chart for improved hybrid risk detection. The chart maps complex interconnections between users and devices to expose possible multi-layered cyberattack courses. Windows 365 Cloud PCs to get stricter defaults, blocking clipboard, USB, drive, and printer redirections to lower information theft threat. Microsoft 365 occupants will see legacy protocol blocking from July, improving security for SharePoint, OneDrive, and Office files.

MSFT stock has gained 13.7% year-to-date, with a 155.33% five-year return, outshining the S&P 500. Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) closed at $477.40 on June 20, 2025, down 0.59% for the day. The tech giant made headlines with the launch of its Business Exposure Chart, an advanced tool designed to enhance defenses against complex hybrid cyberattacks that target both on-premises and cloud systems.

Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Business Exposure Graph Redefines Threat Detection

Microsoft’s new graph-powered solution is part of its Defender XDR and Security Exposure Management offerings. As businesses operate in increasingly hybrid environments, attackers exploit fragmented defenses between on-premises and cloud infrastructure. This graph technology maps critical connections between devices, users, and sensitive data such as session cookies.

This innovation allows Security Operations Center (SOC) teams to visualize and respond to threats more effectively. The Exposure Chart helps trace and correlate complex movements, providing a single, actionable incident report.

Bridging Security Gaps in Hybrid Environments

Traditional SIEM and XDR platforms often miss attacks spanning cloud and on-premises boundaries. Microsoft’s integrated approach closes these detection gaps by scanning keys and associating cross-realm signals. The graph identifies scenarios where a compromised device holds valid session cookies that can unlock cloud resources, enabling attackers to escalate privileges undetected.

Tighter Security Defaults for Windows 365 Cloud PCs

Microsoft also announced new default security settings for Windows 365 Cloud PCs, disabling clipboard, drive, USB, and printer redirections by default to reduce data exfiltration or malware delivery risks. Host pools in Azure Virtual Desktop will adopt these defaults. Admin Center notifications will assist IT admins in managing exceptions through policies.

The tech giant has enhanced virtualization-based security features on Windows 11 Cloud PCs since May 2025, including Credential Guard and hypervisor-protected code integrity, adding another layer of defense against kernel-level attacks.

Blocking Legacy Protocols Across Microsoft 365

Starting July 2025, Microsoft 365 tenants will encounter blocked access via outdated authentication protocols to OneDrive, SharePoint, and Office files. Legacy browser authentication using RPS and FPRPC will be disabled. ActiveX controls in Office apps and Windows 365 versions have been deactivated since January 2025 to mitigate security vulnerabilities.

Teams meetings will receive a screenshot-blocking feature rollout for content protection. Microsoft Outlook will block risky file types like .library-ms and .search-ms from July.