Google creates cybersecurity team to help respond to attacks
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A Google logo at the company's offices in Berlin in August 2021. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Google announced Tuesday it has created a new cybersecurity team to help respond to and prevent cyberattacks against governments, critical infrastructure managers and other crucial companies.
Why it matters: It said the creation of the team is in response to the recent surge in cyber and ransomware attacks, including the ransomware attempt against the Colonial Pipeline in May and the sprawling SolarWinds breach, which was uncovered in December 2020 but likely existed for months before its discovery.
What they're saying: Google said recent attacks "all speak to a major shift in the needs of threat protection."
- "Cybersecurity is at the top of every C-level and board agenda, given the increasing prominence of software supply chain exploits, ransomware, and other attacks," said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud.
- "The Google Cybersecurity Action Team is part of our ongoing commitment to be the best partner for our enterprise and government customers along their security transformation journey," Kurian added.
The team, which will be made up of cybersecurity experts in the company, will help governmental entities and companies strengthen their digital security systems against cyberattacks.
- The team will help organizations respond to attacks by providing threat briefings, preparedness drills and offering rapid response capabilities.
The big picture: FBI director Christopher Wray warned earlier this year that cyber threats against the U.S. government and companies were "increasing almost exponentially."
- The Biden administration has devised collection strategies to get ahead of cyber criminals, including offering financial rewards for information that helps identify and locate people engaged in foreign state-sanctioned malicious cyber activities.
- The administration has also called on major tech companies to work with the federal government to address the growing wave of cyberattacks, and they have responded with new cybersecurity projects and spending plans, Axios' Scott Rosenberg reports.
Go deeper: DOJ launches new initiative to target contractor cyber-fraud
