Microsoft launched Copilot for Security, but the most interesting item is the software giant's monetization model. Copilot will go for $4 an hour in a pricing model that positions generative AI more like a digital worker.
Copilot for Security will be generally available April 1 under a consumption model that covers Copilot as a standard experience and embedded across Microsoft's security portfolio.
Microsoft said the consumption model enables enterprises to start small experiments without per device and per user charges. Customers can use existing Azure accounts and be billed $4/hour via a Security Compute Unit. The per hour pricing is a notable move given the industry's $30 per month per user norm.
According to Microsoft, Copilot for Security will enable security and IT pros to catch signals, intelligence and signals across the threat landscape via a large language model that outlines insights and next steps.
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Generative AI is being leveraged across security platforms including CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks and others. Microsoft also wants to be seen as a security platform and other hyperscalers are in the mix. For instance, Google Cloud launched Security Command Enterprise, which fuses multi-cloud security, AI and SecOps.
Each of these cybersecurity platforms are looking to capitalize on enterprise efforts to consolidate vendors and get more for their money.
Describing the end user feedback from their private access program, Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President of Microsoft Security, said: "We surveyed, 97% of end users actually got joy out of using the Copilot.” When asked about how Microsoft intends to go to market with their security offerings, she added, "after three years of its inception, security is no longer an attach motion for Microsoft; it's a standalone business."
Chirag Mehta, Vice President and Principal Analyst, covering cybersecurity at Constellation Research, attended a security event from Microsoft to learn more about the Copilot firsthand, said:
“Microsoft’s investment in their security portfolio signals their intent to double down in the cybersecurity domain. Leveraging their partnership with OpenAI, Microsoft continues to embrace Generative AI to strengthen their offerings. Security Copilot is an example of using Generative AI to make security more consumable, and to better equip IT and security professionals to defend against sophisticated attacks when there is scarcity of people with cybersecurity skills.”
Copilot for Security includes:
- Custom promptbooks to save natural language prompts for security workflows.
- Knowledgebase integrations that are in preview.
- Multi-language support.
- Third-party integrations.
- Microsoft Entra audit and diagnostic logs.
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