Microsoft Azure to enable encryption of data while in use

In a move to counter the increasing cybercrime and cyber attacks, Microsoft unveiled Azure confidential computing, a hardware-based cloud solution to facilitate encryption of data while in use.

Azure confidential computing is a set of features and services that aims to provide enterprises with a first-of-its-kind level of data security, as it delivers cutting edge support for encryption of customer data both at rest and in transit.

This level of "encryption in use" will help customers further protect their data from several threat scenarios such as malicious insiders with administrative privilege or direct access to hardware on which it's being processed; hackers and malware that exploit bugs in the operating system, application or hypervisor; and third parties accessing it without their consent.

This cloud solution, leveraging the Intel SGX technology, is a direct result of over four years of work from Azure, Microsoft Research, WDG and close collaboration with partner, Intel.

Azure confidential computing is now available in private preview as part of a special early access program.