Rubrik & Microsoft launch Azure Blob cyber solution

Rubrik and Microsoft have jointly introduced a cyber resilience solution for users of Azure Blob Storage, catering specifically to the needs of handling unstructured cloud data.

This new offering allows customers in Australia and New Zealand to automatically discover, categorise, and contextualise all data in their Azure Blob environment while maintaining the data on premises. Additionally, the service evaluates data security, observes user activities for potential risks, and eliminates unnecessary data to manage costs efficiently.

Aung Oo, General Manager of Microsoft Azure Storage, highlighted the need for such solutions given the current advancements in AI. "The rise of generative AI and large language models is producing an explosion of data that needs to be secured. Protecting that torrent of critical AI data at scale in cloud object repositories like Azure Blob Storage requires a purposefully designed cyber resilience solution that Rubrik delivers," he said.

Azure Blob Storage serves as a secure repository for various cloud-native applications, catering to industries requiring storage for massive volumes of data. This includes sensitive business data, personal information, records for compliance, and data for AI model training.

John Meng, Vice President of IT Infrastructure & Operations at Simpson Strong-Tie, expressed confidence in the solution's benefits. "Simpson Strong-Tie is dedicated to innovation and superior service in the construction industry. Disruptions in business can affect both our employees and our customers as well as our ability to provide exceptional service. By leveraging Rubrik's solutions, including Azure Blob protection, we can ensure comprehensive data protection, compliance, and cyber resilience, which allows us to safeguard sensitive information and provide peace of mind to our employees and customers, knowing that their data is secure," Meng shared.

Anneka Gupta, Chief Product Officer at Rubrik, touched on the challenges of current data security landscapes. "Rubrik Zero Labs recently found that 70 per cent of all Rubrik observed data in a cloud environment is object storage, which potentially has far lower security coverage compared to on premise and SaaS data," she explained. "More shocking is that nearly 90 per cent of that data is estimated to be either text files or semi-structured files, representing data types that may vary in being machine readable or covered by prominent security technologies and services. That's a double whammy – until now."

The solution offers Azure Blob Storage customers the capacity to assess the security configuration of sensitive data, continuously monitor risky data usage, and rectify overlapping data to reduce expenses. Benefits also extend to storing backup data in designated Azure Blob Storage tiers, which could lower the cost of ownership, and ensuring rapid data recovery through multiple methods.

This initiative furthers the collaboration between Rubrik and Microsoft, joining other integrations like the comprehensive management of Microsoft 365 and aligning with Microsoft Sentinel and Azure OpenAI Service. In 2023, Rubrik became part of the Microsoft Content AI Partner Program and was acknowledged as the 2024 Microsoft Healthcare Partner of the Year.

The newly announced capabilities for Microsoft Azure Blob Storage have become generally available.