Accenture and Google Cloud move into next phase of partnership

Accenture and Google Cloud have announced an expansion of their global partnership to help businesses better protect critical assets and strengthen security against persistent cyber threats.

Together, the companies state they are providing the technology, infrastructure, and security expertise organisations need to build resilient security programs and maintain confidence in their readiness.

The two companies have partnered since 2018 to help organisations improve their businesses by harnessing Google Cloud's technology in data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cybersecurity to build stronger digital cores.

The next phase of the partnership will focus on:

• Powering Accenture's new Managed Extended Detection and Response (MxDR) service with security-specific generative artificial intelligence (AI) from Google Cloud, designed to integrate with the most common security technology platforms and other clouds.
• Providing crisis management, incident response, and threat intelligence by Accenture and Mandiant, bringing the two companies expertise and capabilities into one joint service.
• Offering comprehensive, proactive cybersecurity services for businesses operating on any cloud or multi-cloud architecture.

Paolo Dal Cin, who leads Accenture Security globally, says, "Enterprises are rapidly transforming, and they need cyber resilience at the core of their digital journeys to protect their businesses and grow with trust and confidence.

"We're bringing the best expertise and capabilities from Accenture Security, Google Cloud and Mandiant together to help our clients achieve the cyber resilience level their businesses need in today's cyber threat landscape.

"When powered by generative AI, our integrated cybersecurity services should enable a new level of cyber resilience, with greater scale, speed and effectiveness."

Sunil Potti, GM and VP of Cloud Security, Google Cloud, says, "Accenture and Google Cloud share a vision for helping enterprises modernise their security positions by combining the most advanced security technology with the world's leading security experts.

"Accenture's new MxDR service is now powered by Chronicles world-class security operations, Mandiant's leading threat intelligence, and new security-specific generative AI capabilities, which will help businesses defend against the most sophisticated cyber threat actors."

Craig Robinson, Research Vice President, IDC, also commented on the announcement, saying, "Google Cloud and Accenture bring global expertise to security by combining their strengths in technology and security operations to drive successful security outcomes for enterprises.

"Through this expanded partnership, Accenture's security professionals are equipped with a broad portfolio of advanced security tools and generative AI from Google Cloud, which will enable them to build end-to-end security programs that optimally protect large-scale organisations."

As part of the collaboration, Accenture is enhancing its adaptive Detection and Response offering and MxDR service by integrating new capabilities and technologies:

• Chronicle Security Operations: Accenture's new MxDR service utilises the Chronicle platform to enable its security teams to better detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats. Enterprises can ingest and search the massive amounts of network and security telemetry they generate, with near real-time analysis and context on security risks and vulnerabilities.
• Mandiant Threat Intelligence: Accenture's new MxDR service, which includes its Cyber Threat Intelligence capability, will also embed the actionable threat intelligence of Mandiant. Mandiant provides near real-time access to context and threat intelligence from the frontlines.
• Security-specific generative AI from Google Cloud: Accenture will utilise the Google Cloud Security AI Workbench, an extensible platform powered by a specialised, security large language model (LLM), Sec-PaLM, that leverages Google's visibility into the threat landscape and Mandiant's frontline intelligence on vulnerabilities, malware, threat indicators, and more. By integrating generative AI within the service Accenture aims to significantly accelerate incident detection, analysis, and response, mitigating the impact of security incidents.
• Location- and industry-specific customisation: Accenture and Google Cloud can build and manage customised security programs for organisations with complex environments that require more than turnkey solutions. This approach is especially for global organisations that need to protect large attack surface areas and high volumes of assets, or for companies needing to comply with local regulations related to data residency and sovereignty.
• Managed crisis and incident response: Accenture's security professionals will partner closely with Mandiant threat experts to help organisations embed resilient cybersecurity protections across their business assets and hybrid workforces.
• Accenture-owned technology accelerators: Accenture security services include unique technology and an intuitive user experience, which increase threat detection and response capabilities and reduce the time and effort needed to contain vulnerabilities.