Give attention to market dominance and safety practices
The investigation facilities on Microsoft’s bundling of workplace productiveness and safety software program with its cloud companies, a follow critics argue disadvantages rivals within the authentication and cybersecurity markets. The FTC is especially inspecting Microsoft Entra ID, its consumer authentication service, amid complaints that licensing phrases and integration with its cloud choices impede rival corporations.
Microsoft’s position as a significant authorities contractor and up to date cybersecurity incidents involving its merchandise have added urgency to the probe. The corporate gives billions of {dollars} in companies to US businesses, together with the Division of Protection, making its practices essential to nationwide safety.
In November 2023, FTC flagged issues in regards to the concentrated nature of the cloud market, warning that outages or efficiency points might ripple by way of the financial system. The authority had then collected suggestions from civil society, trade stakeholders, and academia to organize its report. As per the suggestions, nearly all of the issues have been associated to competitors and licensing practices.
