In cybersecurity, delays cost more than time—they open doors to threats. One key issue behind delayed responses is inconsistent threat actor naming. Conflicting labels across vendors cause confusion and slow down critical action. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) stresses that unified naming helps improve coordination and defense.
To address this, Microsoft and CrowdStrike have partnered to align their cyber threat actor taxonomies. This collaboration gives security professionals faster insight and a stronger foundation for rapid decision-making.
Why Threat Actor Naming Matters
Threat actors are often known by several names across platforms. For example, the group Microsoft calls Midnight Blizzard is also known as Cozy Bear, APT29, or UNC2452. This inconsistency complicates threat analysis for cybersecurity teams working across multiple data sources.
Microsoft already uses a detailed taxonomy informed by over 84 trillion daily signals. By aligning with CrowdStrike’s naming, they aim to reduce confusion, improve consistency, and make intelligence more actionable.
A New Reference Tool for Defenders
The partnership has produced a joint mapping guide of threat actors. This tool translates aliases used by Microsoft and CrowdStrike, offering a side-by-side comparison of their tracking systems. It’s designed to:
- Improve trust in threat identification
- Make cross-platform reports easier to interpret
- Speed up decisions in live attack scenarios
This is not a push for one universal naming system. Instead, it’s a practical bridge for defenders using insights from multiple sources.
Expanding the Effort
This is only the beginning. Google/Mandiant and Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42 will also take part in this initiative. More updates will follow as the collaboration expands. At Eye World, we welcome these joint efforts that empower faster, smarter cybersecurity defense.
Security is stronger when it’s shared. By working together, the industry can stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.
