Mastercard Agrees To Acquire Global Threat Intelligence Firm Recorded Future

Payments giant Mastercard recently agreed to acquire Recorded Future, a global threat intelligence company owned by Insight Partners. The acquisition will cost the payments firm $2.65 billion. 

From Mastercard’s point of view, the acquisition is a great move as it will help strengthen its own cybersecurity capabilities. Not only that, but it will increase the intelligence used to safeguard the digital economy, which includes the payments ecosystem as a whole.

Recorded Future has great potential thanks to its approach to security. The company uses AI and data analytics to provide insight into potential threats in real time. Because of this, customers will be able to mitigate risks, and the company’s cybersecurity expertise will also complement Mastercard’s own suite of fraud prevention, identity, and real-time decisioning tools.

On top of that, Recorded Future is one of the world’s largest threat intelligence firms, and it has over 1,900 clients in 75 nations. Among its customers are more than half of Fortune 100 firms, as well as governments of 45 different countries.

Benefits Of The Acquisition

Mastercard’s move to acquire the firm comes at a time when cyber threats are on the rise around the world. Experts have predicted that cybercrime is expected to cost $9.2 trillion in 2024, although the actual figure has yet to be calculated. 

Furthermore, it is not an unusual move for Mastercard, given that both firms already use AI to analyze vast data points or detect threats in order to protect their consumers and the businesses they collaborate with. The acquisition will have quite a few positive effects, such as allowing the card giant to create more comprehensive and sophisticated cybersecurity solutions.

It could even give it an edge in reinforcing its reputation as a safe and trusted brand, thus driving even more businesses to the firm. Meanwhile, Recorded Future will benefit from Mastercard’s global scale and massive customer reach. The company could use this as a new growth opportunity. 

Finally, clients across various sectors will gain greater security and deeper insights into online threats, so the acquisition will benefit all parties involved, not just the two firms. The deal is expected to be closed by Q1 2025, as the companies are still waiting for the regulatory approval and customary closing conditions.

But, Mastercard’s Chief Services Officer, Craig Vosburg, said: Together we will innovate faster, create smarter models, and anticipate emerging threats before cyberattacks can take place – in payments and beyond.”