Microsoft Corp. has entered into an agreement to acquire cybersecurity threat analysis company Miburo for an undisclosed price.

Founded in 20011, Miburo offers cyberthreat analysis and research specializing in the detection and response to foreign information operations. Foreign information operations, in this context, are primarily state-sponsored media attempting to influence opinion in other countries.

Miburo describes itself on LinkedIn as an interdisciplinary team of researchers and consultants helping defend the free information environment, democracies and citizens from extremism and authoritarian influence.

The company’s research teams detect and attribute malign and extremist influence campaigns across more than ten languages. It offers clients rapid assessment information by cultural understanding and geopolitical realities.

Miburo’s team leverages experience in academia, government and the private sector to help companies develop proactive strategies for mitigating cyberspace risks. The company also offers in-person and online training to law enforcement, military, intelligence and cybersecurity professionals to provide a strategic understanding and tool to mitigate various threats.

Upon completion of the acquisition, Miburo will become part of Microsoft’s Customer Security and Trust organization.

Tom Burt, Microsoft corporate vice president, Customer Security and Trust, wrote in a blog post Tuesday that staff from Miburo will enable Microsoft to expand its threat detection and analysis capabilities to address new cyberattacks and shed light on ways foreign actors use information operations in conjunction with other cyberattacks to achieve their objectives.

“Miburo has become a leading expert in the identification of foreign information operations,” Burt said. “Miburo’s research teams detect and attribute malign and extremist influence campaigns across 16 languages.”

Burt added that the acquisition will allow Microsoft to continue its mission to take action and to partner with others in the public and private sectors to find long-term solutions that will stop foreign adversaries from threatening public and private sector customers and “the very foundations of our democracy.”

That all sounds very good and well, but for a company founded in 2011, Miburo has been highly secretive in its 11 years of existence. The company’s website is vague. It is full of random motherhood statements about its vision and there’s no background on whether it is privately held or even took venture capital funding. Its secrecy suggests it was privately held.

Given the company’s website, it does appear to have a particular obsession with Russia.

Photo: Georgetown Journal on International Affairs