Surface Duo sports 'custom engineered UEFI' to directly address security threats

Afterwards launching the Surface Duo terminal week, Microsoft published documentation on its arroyo to security in hte new device. A lot of the security features Microsoft outlines are standard for whatsoever Android phone. Yet, in that location are a couple of custom bits that stand up out.

The most notable add-on is Microsoft's "custom engineered" Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI). This gives Microsoft "total command" over firmware components, and it'due south somethign the company already uses in its other Surface devices.

"Microsoft delivers Enterprise-grade security to Surface Duo by writing or reviewing every line of firmware code in business firm, enabling Microsoft to respond straight and agilely, to potential firmware threats and to mitigate supply chain security risks," Microsoft says in its documentation. Notably, that means Microsoft could deed independently and more than quickly address whatever firmware vulnerabilities it detects.

On the other hand, it could hateful an Android patch wouldn't be uniform with Duo and could take more than applied science time to apply. This is something nosotros already run across with other loftier-end Android phones, so it wouldn't be surprising. Yet, information technology will be interesting to see what the footstep of security updates from Microsoft is once it launches.

The 2nd notable addition from Microsoft is Microsoft Defender ATP. This is an "enterprise grade antivirus and malware protection software" that is bachelor beyond both Windows 10 and Android devices. Note that this requires Android devices to be managed through Intune.

Because Surface Duo is beingness pitched as a productivity device, security is an important slice of the puzzle. Leaning on Android'due south standard gear up of security and management features should brand it easier for large companies and organizations to adopt, and Microsoft'due south custom UEFI augments those capabilities.

Surface Duo is availabke to preorder at present starting at $1,400 from Microsoft, All-time Buy, and AT&T.

Preorders ahoy!

Microsoft Surface Duo

Two screens are better than one.

Microsoft delves into the future of foldables with an ambitious dual-screen device, featuring two ultra-thin 5.vi-inch AMOLED displays bound by a 360-degree swivel. This pocketable inking-enabled Android smartphone marks the latest in the Surface lineup, geared for mobile productivity.

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