Budweiser’s parent company and the world’s largest beer maker, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) has announced plans to open a cybersecurity unit in Israel to help protect itself from a growing number of attacks.
AB InBev’s Tel Aviv hub will focus on analyzing threats and potential attacks, Reuters reported. AB InBev vice president of global security and compliance Luis Veronesi told the publication that the company and the entire industry have been facing increased cyberattacks, 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
The maker of about 500 brands including Budweiser, Corona and Stella Artois began operating in Israel a year ago when it acquired start-up Weissbeerger, which developed a platform to analyze 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 center and AB InBev added it is planning to expand its workforce.
The company did not disclose financial details of the move.