Google has opened a new cybersecurity hub on the Spanish coast, promising to help build a better, safer internet.
Accordingly, Google is warning that cyber threats are growing more “sophisticated, costly and aggressive.” To that end, the tech giant’s Safety Engineering Center (GSEC) in Málaga will house a “broad range” of teams and experts who can jointly work on developing and scaling “cutting-edge” research and tools built on speed, open source and artificial intelligence (AI), Google said in a blog post.
“With each passing week, cyber threats are growing more sophisticated, costly and aggressive — undermining the trust needed to create a vibrant, inclusive society,” wrote Kent Walker, Google & Alphabet president of global affairs. “GSEC Málaga aims to be part of the solution, a place where we can collaborate with European experts, academics, businesses, and governments on best practices, share research and knowledge, and raise the security bar for all.”
The GSEC will also house a dedicated training space hosting personalized training workshops for government officials, businesses of all sizes, job seekers, NGOs, and local schools. Also, GSEC Málaga adds to existing Safety Engineering Centers in Dublin and Munich.
Google Pledges $10 for Cyber Skills Training
Google has also pledged $10 million through Google.org to advance cybersecurity skills training and help local community organizations.
“Through collaboration at hubs like GSEC Málaga and by leveraging leading-edge technology like AI, we can fix and stop more threats, increasing trust in technology and making a safer, more secure ecosystem for all of us,” Walker said.
At the Center’s launch, Google touted the advantages of AI in building a stronger cybersecurity posture for businesses and individuals. It unveiled a new report by VirusTotal, which is owned by Chronicle, a Google subsidiary, featuring details how AI can help identify malicious code faster, with more accuracy, and for more people compared to traditional tools alone.
“Malware is one of Europe’s largest cybersecurity threats, but malware analysis experts in Europe are in short supply, AI can help fill some gaps,” according to Walker. “Our report demonstrates how AI can work with traditional techniques to increase the speed and accuracy of malware detection —a nd give non-security experts the opportunity to spot and prevent threats without needing highly specialized knowledge or experience."
