President Joe Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that the U.S. would take action to "defend its people" against ransomware attacks, per a White House readout of the call on Friday.

The big picture: The call comes after Russia-linked group is believed to be behind a mass attack earlier this month on software provider Kaseya, the latest in a mass of ransomware attacks impacting U.S. companies.

What they're saying: "President Biden underscored the need for Russia to take action to disrupt ransomware groups operating in Russia and emphasized that he is committed to continued engagement on the broader threat posed by ransomware," according to the White House.

• "President Biden reiterated that the United States will take any necessary action to defend its people and its critical infrastructure in the face of this continuing challenge."

Go deeper: The ransomware-attack leaderboard