Varonis Debuts Industry's First Cybersecurity Solution for Microsoft 365 Copilot

Rhea-AI Summary

Varonis Systems, Inc. introduces Varonis for Microsoft 365 Copilot, a cutting-edge solution to enhance data security and compliance in AI-powered productivity tools. The new offering provides real-time monitoring of Copilot data access, detection of abnormal interactions, and automatic limitation of sensitive data access. Varonis aims to prevent data exposure to employees, cybercriminals, and insider threats by enforcing security policies, automating sensitivity labels, and integrating threat detection tools. With a focus on securing Copilot's activities, Varonis continues to innovate in data security within the Microsoft 365 environment.

Insights

Cybersecurity Analyst

The introduction of Varonis for Microsoft 365 Copilot represents a significant advancement in the realm of data security for AI-driven applications. The real-time monitoring and policy automation features are pivotal for organizations seeking to mitigate risks associated with AI tools. These tools, while enhancing productivity, may inadvertently expose sensitive data if not adequately governed.

The integration with Athena AI's SOC assistant underscores a trend towards more sophisticated, AI-powered security operations centers (SOCs). This evolution in cybersecurity infrastructure is becoming increasingly necessary as threats become more complex and harder to detect with traditional methods.

Varonis' financial performance, specifically the $100 million ARR from its Microsoft 365 security suite, is a testament to the growing demand for robust security solutions in cloud environments. This performance also reflects the company's deep integration with Microsoft's ecosystem, which can be a strong selling point for potential customers operating within this environment.

Financial Analyst

Varonis Systems' strategic focus on enhancing its product suite for Microsoft 365, particularly with the introduction of the Copilot functionality, can be seen as a proactive move to capture more market share in the burgeoning field of AI security. The emphasis on continuous security and compliance is likely to resonate with enterprises that are increasingly aware of the potential risks associated with AI tools.

From a financial perspective, the announcement of this new functionality could potentially lead to an uptick in sales, especially considering the existing $100 million ARR from its Microsoft 365 security suite. This indicates a solid customer base and a product that is well-received in the market, which could be further bolstered by the new Copilot features.

Investors should note the potential for increased R&D costs associated with rapid development cycles in AI security. However, if managed effectively, these investments could lead to significant competitive advantages and long-term shareholder value.

AI Technology Expert

The deployment of AI in business applications, such as Microsoft's Copilot, necessitates advanced security measures to prevent data breaches and ensure compliance. Varonis' development of a purpose-built solution for this specific application is indicative of the industry's need for specialized security tools that can keep pace with the evolving capabilities of AI.

Varonis' use of user behavior analysis (UBA) to detect abnormal interactions with sensitive data is a reflection of the increasing sophistication required in security protocols. The integration of natural language search capabilities further demonstrates the importance of intuitive, user-friendly interfaces in modern cybersecurity solutions.

The potential for this technology to enhance security protocols for AI applications is significant, offering businesses a way to harness the power of AI without compromising on data security. This could be particularly appealing to sectors with stringent compliance requirements, such as finance and healthcare.

Data security leader adds new Copilot functionality to its platform to ensure continuous AI security and compliance

NEW YORK, April 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Varonis Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: VRNS), a leader in data security, today announced Varonis for Microsoft 365 Copilot — the industry's first purpose-built solution to secure Microsoft's AI-powered productivity tool before and after deployment.

Varonis' new offering builds on its existing Microsoft 365 security suite, adding new capabilities to monitor Copilot data access in real time, detect abnormal Copilot interactions, and automatically limit sensitive data accessible by both humans and AI agents.

AI tools can unlock incredible efficiency gains, but when not properly controlled, can unintentionally expose sensitive information to employees and allow cybercriminals and insider threats to find, encrypt, or steal data faster than ever.

Varonis for Microsoft 365 Copilot's rapidly growing feature list includes:

• Copilot posture dashboards. Get a real-time view of sensitive and regulated data exposed to Copilot users, analyze usage trends, and track sensitive data accessed by AI.
  
  
• Copilot policy automation. Enforce security policies to continuously limit Copilot's access to sensitive information and prevent accidental data leakage. Automatically apply sensitivity labels to data created by Copilot.
  
  
• Copilot monitoring and forensics. Varonis collects and enriches Copilot events so you can answer questions such as, "Which users accessed sensitive financial data via Copilot this week?"
  
  
• Copilot threat detection. Varonis' user behavior analysis (UBA) engine factors in Copilot activity and notifies customers of abnormal or suspicious Copilot interactions with sensitive data.
  
  
• Athena AI integration. Varonis for Microsoft 365 Copilot works with Athena AI's SOC assistant and natural language search, making it easy to investigate and resolve Copilot-related security incidents.
  

As a Top-Tier Microsoft partner, Varonis first announced support for Microsoft 365 in 2015 and has grown sales from its Microsoft 365 security suite to more than $100 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). Varonis' cloud-native platform and unparalleled experience protecting data in the Microsoft cloud allows its R&D team to rapidly develop new security solutions for the AI boom.

"Strong data security posture is necessary to roll out Copilot safely," said Varonis EVP of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer David Bass. "However, once you deploy, you need ongoing visibility into what Copilot is doing, what sensitive data it's accessing, and the ability to detect abnormal behavior and policy violations in real time. Varonis for Microsoft 365 Copilot does that."

Organizations can request a free Microsoft 365 Copilot readiness assessment to evaluate their AI security posture or start a Varonis trial from the Azure Marketplace.

Additional Resources

• Learn why Varonis was named a Leader in The Forrester Wave™: Data Security Platforms, Q1 2023. 
• Watch a replay of our Securing Microsoft Copilot Lab workshop.
• Start a Varonis Data Risk Assessment from the Azure Marketplace. 
• See Varonis in action: schedule a 30-minute demo. 
• For more information on Varonis' solution portfolio, please visit www.varonis.com. 
• Visit our blog and join the conversation on X (Twitter), LinkedIn, and YouTube.

About Varonis
Varonis (Nasdaq: VRNS) is a leader in data security, fighting a different battle than conventional cybersecurity companies. Our cloud-native Data Security Platform continuously discovers and classifies critical data, removes exposures, and detects advanced threats with AI-powered automation.

Thousands of organizations worldwide trust Varonis to defend their data wherever it lives — across SaaS, IaaS, and hybrid cloud environments. Customers use Varonis to automate a wide range of security outcomes, including data security posture management (DSPM), data classification, data access governance (DAG), data detection and response (DDR), data loss prevention (DLP), and insider risk management.

Varonis protects data first, not last. Learn more at www.varonis.com.

Investor Relations Contact:
Tim Perz
Varonis Systems, Inc.
646-640-2112
investors@varonis.com

News Media Contact:
Rachel Hunt
Varonis Systems, Inc.
877-292-8767 (ext. 1598)
pr@varonis.com

FAQ

What is the new functionality introduced by Varonis Systems, Inc. for Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Varonis for Microsoft 365 Copilot is a purpose-built solution to secure Microsoft's AI-powered productivity tool, providing real-time data access monitoring, abnormal interaction detection, and sensitive data limitation.

How does Varonis for Microsoft 365 Copilot enhance security?

The solution enforces security policies, automates sensitivity labels, and integrates threat detection tools to prevent data exposure to employees, cybercriminals, and insider threats.

What are some key features of Varonis for Microsoft 365 Copilot?

Key features include Copilot posture dashboards, policy automation, monitoring and forensics, threat detection, and integration with Athena AI for SOC assistance.

What is Varonis' experience in the Microsoft 365 security space?

Varonis has been a Top-Tier Microsoft partner since 2015, with sales of its Microsoft 365 security suite exceeding $100 million in annual recurring revenue.

How can organizations evaluate their AI security posture with Varonis?

Organizations can request a free Microsoft 365 Copilot readiness assessment or start a Varonis trial from the Azure Marketplace.