In Addition To Microsoft, Google Also Plans To Buy Cybersecurity Company Mandiant

JAKARTA – The rise of malware, spyware, and even ransomware attacks has been addressed by many technology companies to anticipate their impact. Google Alphabet Inc., a technology company from the United States, now also wants to focus and does not want to be dated on this issue.

Google, Monday, March 7, was reportedly in talks to buy cybersecurity company Mandiant, a source reported.

This leak immediately made Mandiant shares close up 16% on the Nasdaq after the news spread.

The company, which has a market capitalization of about 4.53 billion US dollars (IDR 65.1 trillion), focuses on responding to and handling cyber incidents and cybersecurity testing.

A deal could boost Google's cloud business, which generates more than $19 billion a year. But they have also lost billions of dollars a year to malware attacks.

The deal with Mandiant, however, could help it compete with bigger rivals such as Microsoft Corp, which is also reportedly interested in buying Mandiant.

Mandiant became an independent entity again last year when FireEye Inc, which acquired the company in 2013, sold its product business and FireEye name for $1.2 billion to a consortium led by private equity firm Symphony Technology Group.

Google and Mandiant did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters about the planned acquisition. However, various rumors surrounding a buying race by the two technology giants, Google and Microsoft, are predicted to make Mandiant's shares continue to soar.