When something’s coming after your business, the last thing you need is confusion. And yet, that’s exactly what’s been happening for years in the world of cybersecurity.
Hackers, whether they’re criminals or state-sponsored actors, don’t show up with name tags. One day they’re called Volt Typhoon. The next day, it’s Vanguard Panda. Same group, different name.
Multiply that by dozens of threat actors, and suddenly your IT provider is trying to decode a tangle of aliases just to respond to a real-time threat.
That costs you time. And in cybersecurity, time is everything.
Why the Confusion?
Each cybersecurity vendor has its own way of naming threats. Some use weather terms. Others use animals. A few go for code numbers and obscure labels. No one agreed on a standard. Over time, it turned into a messy patchwork.
That’s a problem for your business. Because when your tech team is scrambling to match names instead of acting, you’re more vulnerable. A ransomware attack doesn’t pause while people sort out if Secret Blizzard is the same as Venomous Bear.
A New Level of Coordination
In June 2025, Microsoft and CrowdStrike teamed up to clean this up. They didn’t reinvent the wheel. Instead, they built a translation tool: a shared reference system that connects the dots across naming styles.
Now, when one group calls a hacker Cozy Bear and another calls them Midnight Blizzard, your IT partner can immediately recognize they’re the same threat actor. That recognition streamlines how fast they can respond, patch, and protect.
They’ve already mapped over 80 known adversaries. Other heavyweights like Palo Alto Networks and Mandiant are contributing too. The goal is clarity, not cleverness.
How This Helps You
You don’t need to know the name of every cyber actor out there. What you do need is to trust that the people watching your systems can act fast when something happens. This new alignment makes that easier.
Here’s what it means on the ground:
• Faster Response: No more stalling while tech teams decipher multiple names for the same threat. That means faster triage and protection.
• Clearer Communication: Everyone’s finally speaking the same language, no matter which vendor or report they’re reading.
• Better Briefings: If you’re ever debriefed on an incident, your team won’t have to explain away confusing nicknames that sound like cartoon characters.
• Less Waste: Time once spent untangling threat names is now spent on actual defense, including patching systems, scanning for threats, and staying ahead.
What It Looks Like in Practice
Microsoft’s naming system now uses weather themes to help organize threats.
Here’s the shorthand:
- Typhoon = Chinese state-backed actors
- Blizzard = Russian-backed actors
- Tempest, Storm, Tsunami = financially motivated or commercial hacking groups
Each name gives context, not flair. And now, with the shared mapping system in place, this taxonomy plugs right into CrowdStrike’s and others’ systems.
It’s not about picking one name to rule them all. It’s about making sure they’re all connected so that no time is wasted translating during a crisis.
Why It Matters More Than You Think
Some experts have warned that cute names like “Vengeful Kitten” trivialize serious threats. That’s a fair critique. When you’re briefing a board or calming staff after a scare, you need names that sound credible, not like a video game villain.
This new move doesn’t erase creativity. Instead, it adds a much-needed layer of transparency and shared understanding. And for you? That means fewer misunderstandings, faster resolutions, and more trust in your cybersecurity coverage.
The Bottom Line
This collaboration between Microsoft and CrowdStrike might not grab headlines in your industry. Still, behind the scenes, it’s a big deal. It’s one less barrier between your business and a fast, effective cyber defense.
Because when something threatens the systems you rely on such as client data, payroll, communication tools; you don’t care what the bad actor is called. You just want someone on your side who knows what it means and what to do next.
And now, thanks to this new clarity, they can.