Ever tried to follow a story where the villain has four different names? Confusing, right?
That’s exactly what it’s like in cyber security today. One hacking group can be tracked under completely different names depending on whether Microsoft, Google, CrowdStrike, or another security company is writing about them.
The result? Confusion. And worse, slower responses to active threats.
Microsoft and security firm CrowdStrike are teaming up to fix this. They’re introducing a unified naming system for hacking groups — giving each one an official label that everyone can agree on.
This is more than a tidy-up exercise. It makes it faster and easier to understand who’s attacking, how they operate, and how to stop them.
Take one example. A single hacking group could be called Salt Typhoon by Microsoft, GhostEmperor by another vendor, and Operator Panda somewhere else. Unless you know they’re all the same group, it’s easy to miss the full picture.
And in cyber security, every second counts.
The upcoming naming structure will group hackers by type and origin using weather-themed terms:
Chinese state-backed groups: “Typhoon”
Russian groups: “Blizzard”
Ransomware gangs and commercial spyware: “Tempest,” “Storm,” or “Tsunami”
It’s simple, but powerful. By giving everyone a shared language, businesses and security teams can respond faster and more effectively.
Clearer naming improves threat intelligence. It reduces missed warnings, speeds up responses, and helps security providers protect businesses like yours with better context.
Ultimately, collaboration between Microsoft, CrowdStrike, Google, and other big players levels the playing field for smaller businesses. You don’t need to be a cyber expert to benefit. Just knowing that everyone’s talking about the same threat can make a big difference.
This might not make big headlines, but it’s an important step toward making cyber security less chaotic and more effective. It means stronger defences and better protection for businesses of every size.
We can help you review your security strategy and make sure your business is prepared for evolving threats.
Let’s put the right protections in place before the next attack arrives.
