Palo Alto Networks launches AI defense program and NTT DATA alliance

Palo Alto Networks has launched the Frontier AI Critical Defense Program, a collaborative initiative designed to protect critical infrastructure from AI-driven cyber threats. The program utilizes “virtual patches” at the network layer to neutralize vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, addressing the gap between the rapid speed of AI-accelerated attacks and the slower pace of traditional software patching. Key partners in this initiative include Axis Communications, Anthropic, OpenAI, Mitsubishi, and various industry consortiums.

In a separate strategic move, Palo Alto Networks has entered a multi-year global alliance with NTT DATA. This partnership aims to help organizations securely adopt AI and modernize cybersecurity, with a target of $1 billion in joint business by 2029. The alliance combines Palo Alto Networks’ AI-powered security platforms with NTT DATA’s consulting and managed services.

Additionally, Fortinet has announced the acquisition of Virtue AI, a company specializing in AI runtime protection and automated validation for autonomous AI systems. The acquisition is intended to bolster Fortinet’s “Security for AI” strategy, providing tools to secure AI models, applications, and agentic systems from risks such as prompt injection and model poisoning.