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Palo Alto Networks Expands Unit 42 Cybersecurity Consulting Group

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Palo Alto Networks says PAN-OS customers could be under threat from actively-exploited critical bug. (Palo Alto Networks)

Palo Alto Networks has added security consultants from Crypsis, a security operations center-as-a-service (SOCaaS) and data breach response services provider, to its Unit 42 threat intelligence and incident response team.

Palo Alto Networks acquired Crypsis in August 2020, and announced the talent shift to Unit 42 during the Cortex Symphony 2021 virtual security operations conference.

The expanded Unit 42 will serve as a cybersecurity consulting group that will help organizations tackle complex cyber threats, according to Palo Alto Networks.

In addition, Unit 42 will introduce new proactive services that complement Palo Alto Networks's products, the company said. It also will provide incident response services to additional countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

A Closer Look at Unit 42

Unit 42 spans over 200 global threat intelligence researchers with expertise in adversary tools, techniques and tactics. The organization helps customers respond to and recover from cyberattacks. It also provides security assessments, risk and compliance services and other cybersecurity offerings.

Unit 42 has partnered with many governments around the globe, Palo Alto Networks pointed out. It has produced more than 650 reports since its debut in 2014.

In some ways, the Unit 42 group strives to compete against FireEye's well-known Mandiant business, which assisted the SolarWinds Orion breach cleanup.

Palo Alto Networks Partner Program, SASE Security

The Unit 42 expansion comes after Palo Alto Networks in February 2021 launched the NextWave 3.0 channel partner program. NextWave 3.0 offers new specializations incentives, education credits and other enhancements.

Meanwhile, Palo Alto Networks upgraded its Prisma Access security access service edge (SASE) platform in February 2021. The upgraded platform includes performance, security and management enhancements to help organizations protect their remote workers against cyberattacks, the company said.

Dan Kobialka

Dan Kobialka is senior contributing editor, MSSP Alert and ChannelE2E. He covers IT security, IT service provider business strategies and partner programs. Dan holds a M.A. in Print and Multimedia Journalism from Emerson College and a B.A. in English from Bridgewater State University. In his free time, Dan enjoys jogging, traveling, playing sports, touring breweries and watching football.

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