Palo Alto Networks: Frontier AI Critical Defense Program + Collaboration with NTT DATA for secure AI adoption
Palo Alto Networks Introduces Frontier AI Critical Defense Program:
Yesterday, cybersecurity leader Palo Alto Networks joined Nvidia and Anthropic in assembling a high-profile coalition focused on defending critical infrastructure against AI-enabled cyberattacks.
Gartner defines AI in cybersecurity as: “The application of AI technologies and techniques to enhance the security of computer systems, networks, and data to protect from potential threats and attacks. AI enables cybersecurity systems to analyze vast amounts of data, identify patterns, detect anomalies, and make intelligent decisions in real time to prevent, detect, and respond to cyberthreats.”
Using AI in cybersecurity solutions leads to faster and more accurate threat detection along with greater scalability and cost efficiencies. Palo Alto Network’s Frontier AI Critical Defense Program expands on its existing collaborations with IBM, Red Hat, Microsoft, Siemens, and Idaho National Laboratory. Anthropic, OpenAI, and Mitsubishi have now joined the initiative, which is focused on protecting operational technology (OT), health-care systems, commercial software, and open-source ecosystems from AI-driven exploits.
Participating organizations will work with Palo Alto Networks to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities at network scale. One element of the program is the deployment of “virtual patches”—network-level controls designed to neutralize known or newly discovered security weaknesses before software fixes can be developed, tested, and widely deployed.
Palo Alto Networks said its work with compute-intensive frontier AI models has already identified more than 14,000 previously unknown vulnerabilities in open-source software. By comparison, Anthropic reported that its Claude Mythos Preview Model had uncovered more than 23,000 flaws across more than 1,000 open-source projects.
IBM and Red Hat’s related Project Lightwell has not yet disclosed comparable findings. However, the initiative remains in its early stages, making direct comparisons premature.
These efforts reflect a broader shift in the cybersecurity threat landscape. AI systems can automate reconnaissance and exploit development while compressing attack timelines from weeks or days to minutes or seconds. Palo Alto Networks describes the objective of its Frontier AI Critical Defense Program as enabling critical infrastructure operators to “patch at ID speed”—that is, at the speed at which vulnerabilities can be identified—thereby narrowing the exposure window between discovery and remediation.
The emerging model represents a transition from predominantly human-paced cybersecurity operations toward a more compute-intensive and increasingly autonomous approach. AI agents can continuously search for vulnerabilities across complex software and network environments, potentially identifying weaknesses before they are discovered and exploited by adversaries using similar technologies.
“In the age of frontier AI, the traditional, reactive race to build and deploy software patches before adversaries exploit a flaw is a losing battle,” Palo Alto Networks Chief Product Officer Lee Klarich explained. “Protecting critical infrastructure requires a structural shift from isolated patching to collective, proactive intelligence. Through initiatives like our Frontier AI Critical Defense Program, we can neutralize threats at the network layer before they are weaponized.”
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NTT DATA and Palo Alto Networks Form Strategic Alliance to Accelerate Secure AI Adoption:
Today, NTT DATA, a global provider of AI, digital business, and technology services, and Palo Alto Networks have announced a multiyear strategic alliance aimed at helping organizations adopt AI securely, modernize cybersecurity operations, simplify complex technology environments, and strengthen cyber resilience for the AI era.
The agreement represents Palo Alto Networks’ first strategic alliance of this type with a global systems integrator. The companies expect the partnership to generate up to $1 billion in joint business by the end of the three-year period in 2029. The alliance combines Palo Alto Networks’ AI-powered cybersecurity platforms with NTT DATA’s consulting, systems engineering, and managed services capabilities.
Through joint engineering, co-innovation, and coordinated global delivery, the companies will help customers assess cyber risk, deploy AI securely, and continuously optimize their security environments. The resulting solutions are intended to provide an integrated path from cybersecurity strategy and implementation through ongoing managed operations.
Building on the companies’ existing collaboration through the Frontier AI initiative, the alliance will combine Palo Alto Networks’ Unit 42® threat intelligence with NTT DATA’s global cybersecurity expertise, AI-governance capabilities, and managed services. The effort will be supported by joint investments, more than 2,000 certified professionals, and dedicated Forward Deployed Engineers.
Direct engineering collaboration will also give NTT DATA early access to new Palo Alto Networks platform features, enabling the systems integrator to accelerate the development and delivery of AI-security services. The companies initially will focus on highly regulated and critical industries, including financial services, health care, manufacturing, and the public sector.
The initial portfolio will address six strategic transformation areas:
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Autonomous security operations centers (SOCs): Modernize security operations through agentic AI and managed services that help organizations detect, investigate, and respond to increasingly sophisticated, machine-speed threats while reducing operational complexity.
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AI governance: Integrate governance, security, and risk management across the AI lifecycle, enabling organizations to address emerging risks and scale AI initiatives with greater accountability, transparency, and control.
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Identity security: Protect human, machine, and AI-agent identities—including workloads and devices—through an identity-security framework designed to discover, manage, secure, and govern identities across the enterprise.
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Zero Trust and SASE: Secure users, applications, and data across an increasingly distributed attack surface through a unified Zero Trust and secure-access service edge architecture that incorporates AI-driven threat detection and prevention.
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Resilient cloud: Improve visibility, compliance, and autonomous risk reduction across multicloud environments through AI-enabled security-posture management and stronger governance.
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Firewall modernization: Modernize firewall infrastructures to reduce operational complexity, improve visibility, and strengthen enterprise-wide security.
“AI is reshaping both business and cybersecurity, making deep ecosystem collaboration more important than ever,” said Nikesh Arora, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Palo Alto Networks. “Expanding our alliance with NTT DATA allows us to operationalize platformization at true global scale, helping enterprises eliminate legacy complexity and move fast without sacrificing safety.” “AI is redefining every aspect of the enterprise, but it is also transforming the threat landscape at unprecedented speed. Organizations need a new approach to cyber resilience that combines AI-driven security, deep industry expertise and global scale,” said Abhijit Dubey, Chief Executive Officer and Chief AI Officer, NTT DATA, Inc.
“Together with Palo Alto Networks, we’re bringing AI-powered cybersecurity innovation together with NTT DATA’s consulting, engineering and managed services capabilities to help clients securely accelerate AI adoption and stay ahead of evolving threats.”
NTT DATA brings world-class cybersecurity expertise to the collaboration, backed by over 7,500 cybersecurity professionals, 70+ delivery centers and 20+ Autonomous Cyber Defense Centers. Paired with Palo Alto Networks AI-powered platforms and Unit 42 threat intelligence, the alliance delivers the technology, expertise and global reach enterprise organizations need to securely deploy AI across complex environments.
About NTT DATA:
Fortune Global 100. We are committed to accelerating client success and positively impacting society through responsible innovation. We are one of the world’s leading AI and digital infrastructure providers, with unmatched capabilities in enterprise-scale AI, cloud, security, connectivity, data centers and application services. Our consulting and industry solutions help organizations and society move confidently and sustainably into the digital future. As a Global Top Employer, we have experts in more than 70 countries. We also offer clients access to a robust ecosystem of innovation centers as well as established and start-up partners. NTT DATA is part of NTT Group, which invests over $3 billion each year in R&D. Visit us at nttdata.com
About Palo Alto Networks:
Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW), the global AI cybersecurity leader, protects our digital way of life with a comprehensive portfolio of cybersecurity solutions and platforms across Network, Cloud, Security Operations, AI and Identity. Trusted by 70,000+ customers and powered by Unit 42 threat intelligence, our AI-driven platforms eliminate complexity, empowering enterprises to modernize with confidence and securing the speed of innovation. Explore the future of security at www.paloaltonetworks.com.
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References:
Anthropic’s Project Glasswing aims to reshape IT cybersecurity
Palo Alto Networks and Google Cloud expand partnership with advanced AI infrastructure and cloud security
Highlights and Analysis of July 30th U.S. Senate hearing on AI and telecommunications
Applying Zero Trust at the Wireless Edge: Securing Mixed WPA2 and WPA3 IoT Fleets
Fortinet and Palo Alto Networks are leaders in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Network Firewalls
Key Differences Between Network Cybersecurity and Control System Cybersecurity & Why It Matters
SHIELD-6G with AI-native cyber threat intelligence platform to enhance cybersecurity for Europe’s future 6G networks
Countdown to Q-day: How modern-day Quantum and AI collusion could lead to The Death of Encryption
Cybersecurity threats in telecoms require protection of network infrastructure and availability
Network X Americas: AT&T and Comcast reveal huge AI impact on network operations
Sovereign AI infrastructure for telecom companies: implementation and challenges
