Microsoft Agrees To Buy Cybersecurity Firm RiskIQ For $500M: Report

What Happened: The privately-held RiskIQ makes software for detecting online security threats that can be used by corporate networks and devices to safeguard their data from cyber-attacks.

The development comes close on the heels of Microsoft buying ReFirm Labs, a maker of Internet of Things firmware security. The tech giant has been making attempts to offer more products and services to protect customer data amid increasing cyber-attacks globally.

See Also: Microsoft Joins Apple In The $2T Valuation Club

The Satya Nadella-led company has been adding security features to products such as  Windows and Azure cloud services to protect individual machines and detect attacks on networks. Microsoft also has a dedicated unit called the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center that closely tracks nation-state hackers.

The recent cyberattacks on The Colonial Pipeline Co and Brazilian meat-packing company JBS Sa (OTC:JBSAY), forced the companies to halt operations. 

Bank of America Corp (NYSE:BAC) last month beefed up its cybersecurity spending to over $1 billion annually from $300 million to $400 million after eleven and a half years following multiple cyber-attacks. 

Price Action: Microsoft shares closed 0.19% lower at $277.94 on Friday.

For news coverage in French, Italian, or Spanish, check out Benzinga FranceBenzinga Italia, or Benzinga España.

Photo by efes on Wikimedia

Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.