Palo Alto Networks launches AI defense program and NTT DATA alliance

Palo Alto Networks has launched the Frontier AI Critical Defense Program to protect critical infrastructure from AI-driven cyber threats. The initiative aims to bridge the gap between rapid AI-enabled attacks and the slower patching cycles required by essential services like healthcare and operational technology. The program utilizes proactive “virtual patches” to neutralize vulnerabilities at the network level. This effort expands existing collaborations with organizations such as IBM, Microsoft, Red Hat, and Siemens to include new partners like Anthropic, OpenAI, Mitsubishi, and the Linux Foundation’s Akrites initiative.

In a separate strategic move, Palo Alto Networks has entered a multi-year global alliance with NTT DATA to support secure enterprise AI adoption. The partnership aims to generate $1 billion in joint business by 2029 by combining Palo Alto Networks’ AI-powered security platforms with NTT DATA’s consulting and managed services. The collaboration will focus on sectors including financial services, manufacturing, and the public sector, addressing areas such as autonomous security operations, AI governance, and identity security for both humans and AI agents.