Posted by Scott CharneyCorporate Vice President, Trustworthy Computing, Microsoft
Cybersecurity and the overall health of the Internet has become a key concern for governments, enterprises and computer users.
As more people, computers and devices come online (there are approximately 2 billion people using the Internet today), cyber threats have grown more sophisticated and cybercriminals have successfully gathered sensitive data, disrupted critical operations or engaged in other illegal activity such as fraud. Governments around the world have expressed concern that the critical information infrastructures that support their countries could be targeted. In response, many countries have sought to improve critical information infrastructure policy, to build effective information sharing and collaboration capabilities that address threats and vulnerabilities, and to coordinate on responses to increasingly complex cyber incidents.
Posted by Martin IsaaksenFederal UC Lead, Microsoft
Telework is now the law of the land for federal employees, and based on the results of a recent survey, it appears that teleworkers nationwide share many of the same likes, dislikes and concerns about working remotely as their federal colleagues.
President Obama signed the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010 last December, after Congress wrestled with the bill for nearly two years (which may feel as long as some non-teleworkers’ daily commutes). Designed to help agencies define and implement effective telework policies, the new law set a June 9th deadline for agencies to establish policies regarding employee eligibility and authorization to telework. The rubber is about to hit the road for telework – with the goal that more federal employees eventually won’t.
With this in mind, Microsoft earlier this month released a new Remote Working Study to better understand telework’s benefits and challenges, with the goal of improving the technology that enables remote workforces.
Posted by Linda ZecherCorporate Vice President, Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft
This week I was honored to represent Microsoft as we entered a new partnership with the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Through this partnership we will endeavor to address the growing social and economic issue of unequal education opportunities and low literacy rates for women and girls across the world.
Education and empowering women are two issues I am personally passionate about – a passion also shared by many of my colleagues at Microsoft and across the technology industry.
On Thursday, I joined with other leaders, such as U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Mali Prime Minister Cissé Mariam Kaidama Sidibé in helping UNESCO launch the Global Partnership for Girls’ and Women’s Education for improving literacy and the quality of education for girls and women.
Posted by Sig BehrensGeneral Manager, U.S. Education, Microsoft
I witnessed something personally yesterday that was truly inspiring. It reminded me of how exciting a time it is for education reform here in the United States.
We are facing massive education budgets cuts in most states and critical programs like pre-kindergarten and kindergarten are usually among the first to be cut. This affects at-risk kids the most and only perpetuates the cycle of these children not being adequately prepared for learning. And this cycle, should it continue, will continue to drive our graduation rates down which will only make matters worse for our nation in the years to come and we will continue to slide economically.
That's why I want to commend the U.S. Department of Education on the announcement of the new Race to the Top - Early Learning Challenge, which I was privileged to attend in person with Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Posted by Brad SmithGeneral Counsel and Senior Vice President, Legal & Corporate Affairs, Microsoft
Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the Preventing Real Online Threats to Economic Creativity and Theft of Intellectual Property Act of 2011 – the PROTECT IP Act. We support the goals and approach of this important legislation, and urge the committee to report it.
The PROTECT IP Act is aimed at providing new tools to challenge the proliferation of “rogue sites” -- Internet sites that are dedicated to infringing content or counterfeit goods. It would establish both governmental and private rights of action in an effort to address what the U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates to be a multi-billion dollar a year problem that threatens U.S. creators and innovators, places U.S. consumers at risk, harms our economy and costs American jobs.