Terry Myerson, Microsoft Windows chief

Microsoft said it has agreed to acquire Hexadite, a Boston company that automates investigations of cyberattacks and improves defenses in real time.

The company, which also has a team of researchers in Tel-Aviv, Israel, will be absorbed into the Windows and Devices Group. Microsoft will use Hexadite’s tools to bolster its Windows Defender Advanced Threat Protection system to help commercial Windows 10 customers deal with advanced attacks.

“Our vision is to deliver a new generation of security capabilities that helps our customers protect, detect and respond to the constantly evolving and ever-changing cyberthreat landscape,” Terry Myerson, executive vice president of Microsoft’s Windows and Devices Group said in a statement. “Hexadite’s technology and talent will augment our existing capabilities and enable our ability to add new tools and services to Microsoft’s robust enterprise security offerings.”

Microsoft did not release terms of the deal, but TechCrunch is reporting the sale price at $100 million. Microsoft would not confirm the price.

Microsoft claims that Windows 10, which is now on more than 500 million devices, is the safest version of Windows yet. The company said it will continue to invest in ways to automate detection and defense against attacks to serve its many customers with sensitive information like U.S. Department of Defense, Australian Department of Human Services, Kimberly-Clark, MARS Inc., Crystal Group and others.

This acquisition has unfolded against a backdrop of massive cyberattacks like the WannaCry ransomware incident grabbing global headlines. In that case, Microsoft had to issue an unusual public patch for older Windows versions that were otherwise only eligible for custom support — Windows XP, Windows 8 and Windows Server 2003 — to fix the vulnerability being exploited by the widespread ransomware attack targeting institutions around the world.

Microsoft said attacks have gotten increasingly more sophisticated over the years. The company cited broad estimates that data breaches can cost between $12 million and $17 million per incident and millions more in lost productivity.

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