Brewer Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) has announced that it is opening a cybersecurity unit in Israel to help protect itself from a growing number of attacks.
Israel is a leader in cybersecurity and many of the world's largest companies have opened centres there or acquired Israeli tech firms to defend themselves against hackers as the reliance on digital networks and cloud storage becomes more prevalent.
AB InBev's Tel Aviv hub will focus on analysing threats and potential attacks, said Luis Veronesi, vice president of global security and compliance. The company did not disclose financial details of the move.
Increased Cyber Attacks
Veronesi told Reuters that AB InBev and the entire industry have been facing increased cyber attacks, ranging from "financially motivated" hacks to attempts at disrupting operations.
"With increasing digitalization, we have to be prepared to defend against anything coming," he said.
Ab InBev Israeli Operations
The maker of approximately 500 brands, including Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois, began operating in Israel a year ago when it acquired startup Weissbeerger, which developed a platform to analyse beverage consumption at point of sale by connecting beer taps to the internet and collecting data from the register.
Weissbeerger became the company's local research and development centre, and it plans to expand its workforce, AB InBev said.
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