Unit 42: Intelligence driven, response ready

By bringing together industry-leading threat intelligence, incident response and cyber risk expertise backed by Palo Alto Networks technology, Unit 42TM has become a strategic advisor to CISOs around the globe.

THE UNIT 42 MISSION

Our daily mission is to protect the digital world from cyberattacks.

We wake up every day focused on collecting and analyzing the most up-to-date threat intelligence and applying our analysis to respond to cyberattacks.

We make sure that your worst days aren’t as bad as they might have been without us.

Don’t panic. Unit 42 has you covered.

The 42 in our name serves as a nod to Douglas Adams’ “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.” And while the number itself may not provide the ultimate answers to all your cybersecurity questions, our team is here to do exactly that.
Whale
WHO WE ARE

An elite leadership team of cybersecurity experts

Unit 42 brings together world-renowned threat researchers, incident responders and security consultants to create an intelligence-driven, response-ready organization that's passionate about helping you proactively manage cyber risk. Our team serves as your trusted advisor to help assess and test your security controls, transform your security strategy with a threat-informed approach and respond to incidents in record time.

Under the leadership of Wendi Whitmore, Unit 42 has become a globally recognized incident response leader. She previously led IBM’s X-Force incident response and threat intelligence teams. Wendi is an appointed member of the Department of Homeland Security’s inaugural Cyber Safety Review Board.
Wendi Whitmore

Wendi Whitmore

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, UNIT 42

Michael Sikorski, Unit 42’s CTO and VP of engineering, is a world-renowned expert in reverse engineering and wrote the best seller, “Practical Malware Analysis.” He has over 20 years of experience working on high-profile incidents and leading R&D teams, including at Mandiant and the NSA.
Michael Sikorski

Michael Sikorski

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Sam Rubin, global head of operations, has spent 20 years in cybersecurity, helping organizations defend against cyberthreats. He guides Unit 42’s consulting offering strategy and has expertise in incident response, digital forensics and cyber risk management.
Sam Rubin

Sam Rubin

Global Head of Operations

Alex Gross, vice president of incident response sales, is an experienced lawyer working with and leading a sales team in supporting global law firms, insurance carriers and enterprises responding to data breaches. Before joining Unit 42, Alex was on the leadership team at Crypsis and held senior level sales roles at Stroz Friedberg and Kroll.
Alex Gross

Alex Gross

VP, incident response sales

Tim Erridge, managing partner - EMEA, is a recognized innovator with over 20 years of experience in intelligence-led cybersecurity for organizations of all sizes and all industries. He has led teams of subject matter experts in threat intel, incident response and offensive security.
Tim Erridge

Tim Erridge

Managing Partner - EMEA

Sharon Maydar, senior director of Managed Services, has over 20 years of experience in tech, leading R&D and product teams in enterprise companies and startups. Prior to joining Unit 42, she led the development of Lightcyber's Behavioral Detection Engine and its integration into Cortex XDR®.
Sharon Maydar

Sharon Maydar

SENIOR DIRECTOR, MANAGED SERVICES

Bret Padres, Group VP, is an expert in information security, digital forensics, law enforcement and counterintelligence. He began his career as an Air Force special agent investigating international computer incidents and provided testimony that led to a conviction in a high-profile espionage trial.
Bret Padres

Bret Padres

VP, CORPORATE SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT

Jessica Smith, VP of security consulting operations, directs Unit 42’s technical client service team. She has an extensive record of leading complex forensic investigations, testifying as an expert witness and was named one of the Top 100 Women in Cybersecurity for 2020 by Cyber Defense Magazine.
Jessica Smith

Jessica Smith

VP, UNIT 42 SECURITY CONSULTING OPERATIONS

WHAT WE DO

Intelligence driven. Response ready.

Incident
Response
Palo Alto Networks
Products
Threat
Intelligence
Swift data collection for investigation
Swift data collection for investigation
Swift data collection for investigation
Security Updates
Observed attacker techniques & indicators of compromise Swift data collection for investigation
Security Updates

Why choose us

Industry-approved incident response


Unit 42 was recently named a strong performer in the Forrester Wave™: Cybersecurity Incident Response Services, so we know for a fact that our approach 100% aligns with industry best practices as well as our clients' best interests.

160+

INCIDENT RESPONDERS

200+

THREAT RESEARCHERS

500B

EVENTS ANALYZED PER DAY

As Seen In

jeffries-logo

Go from reactive to proactive

Our consultants serve as your trusted advisors to assess and test your security controls against the right threats, transform your security strategy with an intelligence-informed approach and respond to incidents in record time.
Please complete reCAPTCHA to enable form submission.
By submitting this form, you agree to our Terms. View our Privacy Statement.