Microsoft plans to acquire security company Mandiant

Microsoft would be interested in acquiring security company Mandiant. The software giant is talking about this with the security company. Mandiant has been independent since last year, after parent company FireEye sold it.

Microsoft has since held talks with Mandiant, sources told Bloomberg. Details about a possible deal are not yet known. Mandiant would have increased in value to 3.76 billion euros after the news. Microsoft is said to be interested in the company, because it has been investing more and more in security companies in recent years. A Bloomberg analyst says Microsoft wants to focus even more on cloud security through the acquisition. Microsoft would like to gain more insight into hacking attacks through Mandiant’s analyses.

Mandiant is a company that, among other things, conducts security research, but also provides computer emergency response teams. These CERTs can be deployed at companies that are affected by cyber attacks. For example, Mandiant was involved in a ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline in the US in 2021.

Mandiant was acquired in 2013 by security company FireEye and has been responsible for an important part of the CERTs ever since. FireEye sold a large portion of its Products portfolio to an investment company last year. The company has since continued as Mandiant.