Google buys cybersecurity company Mandiant for about $5.4 billion in cash.
Mandiant’s operations, which employ over 600 security consultants and over 300 analysts, will be merged into Google Cloud to create a “comprehensive set of security operations.” A range of services will be offered, from cybersecurity consulting to detecting upcoming threats and testing a company’s digital defenses.
“Organizations around the world are facing unprecedented cybersecurity challenges as the sophistication and severity of attacks previously used to attack major governments are now being used to attack companies across all industries,” Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian said in a blog post. “We look forward to welcoming Mandiant to Google Cloud to further enhance our suite of security operations and advisory services, and help customers address their most critical security concerns.”
Mandiant is perhaps best known for uncovering the devastating SolarWinds attack.
Mandiant is perhaps best known for uncovering the devastating SolarWinds attack, a massive operation believed to be sponsored by the Russian government that hacked US federal government computers. The attack went unnoticed for most of the year until Mandiant gave details of the operation in December 2020.
Earlier there were rumors that Microsoft could become a potential buyer of Mandiant. Microsoft and Google are vying for control of the lucrative cloud services market, where cybersecurity is playing an increasingly prominent role.
“There has never been a more critical time in cybersecurity. Since our founding in 2004, Mandiant’s mission has been to fight cyber attacks and protect our customers from the latest threats,” Mandiant CEO Kevin Mandia said in a press statement. “To this end, we are very pleased to join forces with Google Cloud. Together, we will deliver expertise and intelligence at scale, transforming the security industry.”