Microsoft has called on all businesses operating within the IT sector to place more of a focus on managed security and other forms of protection against hackers.
According to the computing giant, hackers are posing an increasingly large threat to businesses as they exploit vulnerabilities - something which needs to be targeted by the use of effective security systems.
The news comes after the company announced it has extended the Microsoft Active Protections Program, which is designed to allow software makers and security experts to work together to locate and fix vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
It will now include vulnerability information sharing from Adobe, with Microsoft also discussing its policy of coordinated vulnerability disclosure.
Mike Reavey, director of the Microsoft Security Response Center, explained: "Microsoft acknowledges that the constantly changing threat landscape requires a new approach to security - collaboration and shared responsibility are key as past individual efforts are no longer enough."
It comes after research carried out by Vanson Bourne on behalf of Savvis revealed that 73 per cent of IT and business decision makers want the firms they partner with to fully manage security while allowing for configuration changes from the client.