Accenture and Google Cloud Expand Partnership to Accelerate Cybersecurity Resilience

Rhea-AI Summary

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and Google Cloud have expanded their partnership to enhance cybersecurity solutions. This collaboration will leverage generative artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and machine learning to create robust security programs for organizations. Accenture is set to integrate new capabilities into its Managed Extended Detection and Response (MxDR) service, incorporating Google Cloud's Chronicle platform and Mandiant's threat intelligence. This partnership aims to provide comprehensive cybersecurity services, including crisis management and incident response, to help businesses navigate complex security landscapes. Lendlease is already implementing these solutions to upgrade its IT infrastructure and strengthen its security posture.

Positive

• Expansion of partnership between Accenture and Google Cloud to enhance cybersecurity services.
• Utilization of generative AI and advanced analytics to improve threat detection and response.
• Accenture's Managed Extended Detection and Response (MxDR) service offers comprehensive cybersecurity for multi-cloud environments.
• Lendlease benefiting from upgraded security solutions and IT infrastructure improvements.

Negative

• None.

Lendlease selects Accenture Security and Google Cloud solution for AI-powered cyber detection and response

NEW YORK & SUNNYVALE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Accenture (NYSE: ACN) and Google Cloud today announced an expansion of their global partnership to help businesses better protect critical assets and strengthen security against persistent cyber threats. Together, they are providing the technology, trusted infrastructure, and security expertise organizations need to build resilient security programs and maintain confidence in their readiness.

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

The two companies have partnered since 2018 to help the world’s largest organizations fundamentally improve their businesses by harnessing Google Cloud’s leading 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.

“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,” said Paolo Dal Cin, who leads Accenture Security globally. “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, said, “Accenture and Google Cloud share a vision for helping enterprises modernize 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 Chronicle’s 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.”

"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,” said Craig Robinson, research vice president, IDC. “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 organizations."

Combining Accenture Security Services and Google Cloud technology

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 utilizes the Chronicle platform to enable its security teams to better detect, investigate, and respond to cyber threats. It does so by helping enterprises 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, leading threat intelligence of Mandiant. Mandiant provides near real-time access to context and threat intelligence from the frontlines, with a global team of analysts who operate around-the-clock investigating and responding to the most sophisticated cyberattacks.
• Security-specific generative AI from Google Cloud: Accenture will be the first company to utilize the Google Cloud Security AI Workbench, an industry-first extensible platform powered by a specialized, 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 customization: Accenture and Google Cloud can build and manage customized security programs for organizations with complex environments that require more than turnkey solutions. This approach is well-suited for global organizations 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 organizations 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.

Helping Lendlease secure their global business

Lendlease, a global real estate group with core expertise in shaping cities and creating thriving communities, is already benefiting from the new MxDR solution that leverages Google Cloud’s Chronicle Security Operations technology to achieve next-generation detection and response. Accenture is assisting Lendlease with a significant upgrade to its IT infrastructure to further progress its cloud-first strategy, including moving its workloads to Google Cloud and upgrading its core offerings, such as the Podium Property Insights (PPI) platform. Accenture is also providing 24x7 security services that include incident response, vulnerability management, and security protections for infrastructure and applications.

“Having the flexibility to adapt to shifting global cyber risks is critical to Lendlease as we deliver connected communities, precincts and places right around the world,” said William Ruh, Chief Executive Officer, Lendlease Digital. “This new partnership with Accenture and Google will help us simplify our security operations, including our operational technology environments, to offer greater transparency, flexibility and speed at scale.”

Accenture recently ranked No. 1 in managed security services market share by revenue in the Gartner® Market Share: Managed Security Services, Worldwide, 2022 report.*

*Gartner, Market Share: Managed Security Services, Worldwide, 2022, April 2023. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and is used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company that helps the world’s leading businesses, governments and other organizations build their digital core, optimize their operations, accelerate revenue growth and enhance citizen services—creating tangible value at speed and scale. We are a talent and innovation led company with 738,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Technology is at the core of change today, and we are one of the world’s leaders in helping drive that change, with strong ecosystem relationships. We combine our strength in technology with unmatched industry experience, functional expertise and global delivery capability. We are uniquely able to deliver tangible outcomes because of our broad range of services, solutions and assets across Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X and Accenture Song. These capabilities, together with our culture of shared success and commitment to creating 360° value, enable us to help our clients succeed and build trusted, lasting relationships. We measure our success by the 360° value we create for our clients, each other, our shareholders, partners and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

Accenture Security is a leading provider of end-to-end cybersecurity services, including strategy, protection, resilience and industry-specific cyber services. We bring security innovation, coupled with global scale and a worldwide delivery capability through our network of Cyber Fusion Centers. Helped by our team of highly skilled professionals, we enable clients to innovate safely, build cyber resilience and grow with confidence. Follow us @AccentureSecure on Twitter, LinkedIn or visit us at accenture.com/security.

About Google Cloud

Google Cloud accelerates every organization’s ability to digitally transform its business. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google’s cutting-edge technology—all on the cleanest cloud in the industry. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems.

Copyright © 2023 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture and its logo are registered trademarks of Accenture.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230424005715/en/

Alison Geib

Accenture

+1 703 947 4404

alison.geib@accenture.com

Mylissa Tsai

Accenture

+1 617 488 7932

mylissa.tsai@accenture.com

Denise Berard

Accenture

+1 617 488 3611

denise.berard@accenture.com

Ryan Styrk

Google Cloud

styrk@google.com

Source: Accenture

FAQ

What did Accenture and Google Cloud announce in April 2023?

Accenture and Google Cloud announced an expansion of their partnership to enhance cybersecurity solutions, leveraging generative AI and advanced analytics.

How will the partnership benefit businesses?

The partnership aims to provide businesses with advanced cybersecurity services, including enhanced detection and incident response capabilities.

What is the MxDR service offered by Accenture?

The Managed Extended Detection and Response (MxDR) service integrates Google Cloud's technology with Accenture's expertise to offer comprehensive cybersecurity.

Which company is already utilizing the new MxDR solution?

Lendlease is already implementing the new MxDR solution to enhance its cybersecurity and IT infrastructure.

What technology is Accenture using in its MxDR service?

Accenture's MxDR service utilizes Google Cloud's Chronicle platform and Mandiant's threat intelligence for improved security operations.