Mastercard Acquires Recorded Future to Boost Cybersecurity

In a significant move to enhance its cybersecurity services, Mastercard has announced its agreement to acquire global threat intelligence company Recorded Future for $2.65 billion. This acquisition further bolsters Mastercard’s efforts to protect the digital economy from rising cyber threats.

Recorded Future: A Leader in Threat Intelligence

Recorded Future is the world’s largest threat intelligence company, serving over 1,900 clients across 75 countries. Its customer base includes the governments of 45 nations and more than 50% of Fortune 100 companies. The company’s real-time data analysis and AI-powered technologies provide crucial insights into potential threats, enabling businesses and governments to act quickly and mitigate risks.

The Rising Threat of Cybercrime

With cybercrime costs expected to reach $9.2 trillion globally by the end of 2024, the need for robust, global cybersecurity has never been more critical. As new technologies emerge, so do new cyber threats, and businesses are looking for holistic solutions to safeguard their digital infrastructure.

Enhancing Mastercard’s Cybersecurity Services

By acquiring Recorded Future, Mastercard gains access to advanced threat intelligence capabilities. These tools will enhance its existing identity, fraud prevention, real-time decision-making, and cybersecurity services, providing additional support to merchants and financial institutions in Mastercard’s network.

AI-Powered Threat Detection

Both Mastercard and Recorded Future use AI to analyze vast amounts of data and detect potential threats. This acquisition will allow the two companies to collaborate further, driving innovations in cybersecurity practices, creating more efficient threat detection models, and anticipating cyberattacks before they occur.

Trust as a Key Component

“Trust is the foundation of any relationship. Recorded Future adds to how we deliver that greater peace of mind before, during, and after the payment transaction,” said Craig Vosburg, chief services officer at Mastercard. “Together we will innovate faster, create smarter models, and anticipate emerging threats before cyberattacks can take place – in payments and beyond.”

Expanding Customer Reach and Opportunities

The acquisition opens new opportunities for Recorded Future to expand, leveraging Mastercard’s global reach and vast customer base. In return, Mastercard’s clients across industries will benefit from improved threat intelligence, which will support product innovation and enhanced security.

Shared Vision of a Safer World

Christopher Ahlberg, CEO of Recorded Future, emphasized the company’s mission, saying, “Fifteen years ago, we created Recorded Future with a simple goal: to secure the world with intelligence. By joining Mastercard, we see an opportunity to help more businesses and governments realize their full potential – and to enable everyone to feel safer in their daily lives.”

AI-Driven Innovation in Fraud Prevention

Mastercard and Recorded Future already collaborate on an AI-powered service that alerts financial institutions about compromised cards. Since its launch earlier this year, the service has doubled the rate at which compromised cards are identified, providing quicker and more accurate alerts.

Regulatory Review and Closing

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2025, pending regulatory review and other customary closing conditions. The deal represents Mastercard’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding the digital economy from ever-evolving cyber threats.