Tech giant, Microsoft, is heavily focused on building long-term trust with customers and re-establishing how cybersecurity leaders engage with the company. Mick Dunne, Chief Security Adviser for Asia Pacific at Microsoft, shared insights into the newly established Customer Security Officer (CSO) team, a strategic initiative.

Dunne, who transitioned from a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) role to his position at Microsoft, saw the move as an opportunity to leverage his expertise in a new way. Rather than being sales-driven, the CSO team is focused on understanding customer challenges and providing strategic security guidance.

“Microsoft recognises that where we have people like me in place, there’s a stronger and deeper connection with our customers,” Dunne explained, focusing on how this independence fosters more authentic conversations with CISOs and security teams.

A core element of the CSO team’s approach is empathy – helping security leaders walk through the complexities, simplify security strategies, and bridge communication gaps with business executives. Dunne reiterated that while the industry is filled with niche security solutions, the real challenge lies in integrating them effectively.

“The simpler we can make this problem without dumbing it down to nothing, that is the challenge” he noted, stressing the need for clear, strategic conversations at the executive level.

As the CSO team continues to grow and unfold, Dunne expressed confidence in Microsoft’s commitment to security as a top priority. Less than a year since its formation, the team is already shaping Microsoft’s engagement with customers, reinforcing security leaders have the insights and resources needed to protect their organisations.

The strategic and empathetic approach of the CSO team is helping organisations steer through their cybersecurity challenges more effectively and fortifying security as a cornerstone of business resilience and trust.