Microsoft has laid off employees in several departments, including security, sales, experiences and devices, and gaming, according to Business Insider.
A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the layoffs but described them as “small,” without disclosing specific numbers. The company clarified that these layoffs were unrelated to recent reports of cuts aimed at underperforming employees across the organization.
Notifications about layoffs began on Tuesday, with some affected employees coming from Microsoft’s security unit. This group is led by Charlie Bell, a former Amazon executive who joined Microsoft in 2021 to strengthen its cybersecurity efforts.
Last year, Microsoft made security a top priority across the company, launching its Secure Future Initiative and integrating security as a key factor in employee performance reviews. The push followed several years of security concerns, including a significant breach that allowed hackers to access customer emails, an incident described by the Department of Homeland Security as a “cascade of security failures.”
CEO Satya Nadella emphasized security’s importance in company communications, stating that when prioritizing between security and other objectives, security should always come first.
