Today's meeting with President Joe Biden saw Google and Microsoft promise to invest $30 billion each in cybersecurity advances over the next five-years. Google has pledged $10 billion and Microsoft $20 billion.
Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, stated on Twitter that $150m of the money would be used to expand Microsoft’s training network and assist US agencies with their digital security system upgrades. The White House stated that this particular investment was made as follows: "Microsoft will immediately make available $150,000,000 in technical services to assist federal, state and local governments with improving security protection. It will also expand partnerships with community colleges, non-profits, and other organizations for cybersecurity training."
Google will, in the meantime, focus on expanding the zero-trust security model and securing software supply chains, open-source security, as well as offering more training opportunities for Americans. Google stated that it will provide 100,000 Americans with Google Career Certificates in cybersecurity over the next three-years.
Today, President Biden met today with cybersecurity experts and technology companies to discuss security threats such as the SolarWinds attack. He also discussed how the US can better protect its digital systems. Apple and Microsoft will receive financial infusions. Amazon will also offer free cybersecurity training. Other organizations such as IBM, Girls Who Code, and Code.org have plans to increase cybersecurity defenses in government, industry, and society.
It was not clear what the White House cybersecurity meeting would bring out, but $30 billion is a good place to start.
