AML, or anti-money laundering, is the set of controls, rules, and investigations used to detect, prevent, and report suspicious movement of funds. In practice, AML programs look for signs that money is being hidden, broken into smaller transfers, routed through intermediaries, or moved across accounts that do not match the customer’s normal behavior.
AML matters in cyber security because many digital crimes are designed to turn stolen value into spendable cash or crypto. Attackers may use mule accounts, shell entities, payment processors, or cross-chain transfers to add layers between the crime and the final cash-out. Good AML defenses combine transaction monitoring, customer due diligence, sanctions screening, and case management so investigators can connect unusual payments with fraud, account takeover, or impersonation activity. When AML teams share telemetry with fraud and cyber teams, suspicious patterns are easier to spot before funds disappear.