March 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. government on Wednesday

asked companies to strengthen the security of Microsoft's ( MSFT )

endpoint management tool, after a cyberattack on medical device

maker Stryker Corp ( SYK ) last week.

The March 11 cyberattack hit Stryker's computer systems,

causing widespread disruption to its business, including its

ability to process orders, make products and ship them to

customers. The company said it had experienced a global

disruption to its Microsoft ( MSFT ) environment.

An Iran-linked hacking group called Handala claimed

responsibility for the attack, saying it was in retaliation to a

strike on a girls' school in Minab, southern Iran.

* The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency

(CISA) said it is aware of malicious cyber activity targeting

endpoint management systems of U.S. organizations, based on the

Stryker attack.

* CISA asked companies to harden endpoint management system

configurations, implementing Microsoft's ( MSFT ) best practices to

secure Microsoft Intune, a tool that manages user access,

devices, and applications across organizations.

* CISA is coordinating with federal partners, including the

Federal Bureau of Investigation, to identify additional threats

and determine mitigation actions.

* Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday that the cyberattack

on Stryker has delayed surgeries for some patients.

* Stryker said on Tuesday that it had contained the attack

and that no patient-related services or connected medical

products were affected, though it did not provide details on the

financial impact.