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SonicWall, one of the leading US-based cybersecurity companies specialising in internet appliances for content control and network security, has outlined key measures to streamline AI-enabled cybersecurity systems and counter likely AI-enabled cyber-attacks.
Real-Time Threat Detection and Response with AI
Derek Maggiacomo, SonicWall’s Executive Vice President of North America Sales, emphasizes the growing need for tools harnessing AI to detect and respond to threats in real-time. Maggiacomo predicts a rise in AI-enabled attacks as less skilled threat actors adopt the technology. Traditional cyberattacks will become outdated, and affordable AI technology will lead to more sophisticated threats that pose challenges for cybersecurity professionals. As a response, there will be a demand for tools utilising AI to counter these threats in real-time.
Automating Threat Detection and Response
Chandrodaya Prasad, SonicWall’s Executive Vice President of Product Marketing, highlights the importance of deploying AI-powered solutions to monitor networks for anomalous behaviour, update security protocols automatically, and take immediate action against threats. Prasad notes the likely escalation of a “tug-of-war” between offensive and defensive uses of AI, creating an “arms race” in cybersecurity. Concerns arise over potential targeting of supply chains due to the complexity of modern software and hardware, making them attractive to cybercriminals and hackers.
Adoption of ‘Post-Quantum’ Cryptographic Algorithms
In light of concerns expressed by Oscar Chavez-Arrieta, SonicWall’s Executive Vice President of Latin America, regarding the limits of some companies to confront cyber-attacks, there is a growing trend towards the adoption and standardisation of ‘post-quantum’ or ‘quantum-resistant’ cryptographic algorithms. This shift is driven by the potential vulnerabilities of traditional cryptographic algorithms, especially those used in key infrastructures, with the advancement of quantum computing.
Regulatory Changes and Partner Ecosystems
Oscar Chavez-Arrieta emphasizes the need for CISO/CTOs to advocate for robust regulatory changes. He also urges vendors to respect the partner ecosystem, allowing partners to offer their services instead of competing. Douglas McKee, SonicWall’s Executive Director of Software Engineering, warns against forgetting past vulnerabilities, such as Log4j, as threat actors may exploit them. SonicWall’s threat data predicts a significant year-on-year increase in such attacks in the near future.
As companies invest heavily in AI technology, Sarah Choi, SonicWall’s Senior Manager of Product Marketing, urges the implementation of governance models for oversight of sensitive data and awareness of potential misinformation. Choi anticipates forthcoming legislation, such as the EU’s NIS2 Directive and the Cyber Resilience Act, imposing stricter standards for cyber protection and clear reporting timelines in the event of a breach. In 2024, optimising transparency through these regulations will be crucial in curbing cybercriminal activity effectively.
SonicWall accelerates SASE offerings, acquires proven cloud security provider
SonicWall, a global cybersecurity leader, announced the acquisition of Banyan Security, a leading provider of security service edge (SSE) solutions for the modern workforce. This acquisition strengthens SonicWall’s portfolio by adding zero trust security relied on by leading fortune 100 companies to small businesses who are replacing legacy architectures for SSE solutions, including Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA).
“Cybersecurity’s focus is shifting to more dynamic solutions that can adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of threats in the cloud age,” said SonicWall President and CEO Bob Vankirk. “For years, firewalls have been the cornerstone of cybersecurity defenses. However, with the rise of cloud computing and secure access service edge (SASE), the industry is shifting its focus to more comprehensive and flexible approaches that include SSE and ZTNA as a necessity. Together, SonicWall and Banyan Security will provide cloud-based secure access service edge (SASE) solutions that empower partners to deliver a security architecture for any stage of their customers’ evolving cloud journey.”
Banyan’s technology further extends SonicWall’s portfolio to the cloud and provides partners and their customers with more flexibility, which is key to the continued development of SonicWall’s cybersecurity platform. The acquisition aligns with SonicWall’s “best of suite” strategy — which includes network, endpoint, wireless, cloud email, and threat intelligence — under a single, multi-tenant portal. The platform also simplifies workflows and offers unified threat visibility, enabling service providers and end users to focus on what truly matters.
“For decades, SonicWall has played a pivotal role in supporting their partners by delivering leading cybersecurity solutions,” said Joshua Skeens, CEO of Logically, a valued SonicWall partner. “They’re now extending that to the cloud as the demand for cloud-first strategies is evident. As businesses embark on their cloud journey, they will require hybrid deployments which SonicWall is ideally positioned to provide, and we are excited to be working alongside SonicWall as we empower businesses to thrive in this new era.”
With hybrid and remote employees working from their homes, virtual offices, and coffee shops, while accessing critical business applications across increasingly complex networks, a new set of challenges has emerged. To secure this ever-growing and interconnected access surface, organisations have been driven to adopt zero trust models to modernise security, often as a replacement for legacy architectures.
“By adding Banyan Security to the SonicWall portfolio, we can now deliver to our partners and customers in the META region a comprehensive best-in-class SSE solution,” said Mohamed Abdallah, Regional Director META at SonicWall. “The region is undergoing a rapid digital transformation, and with that comes new challenges and opportunities for cybersecurity. By combining SonicWall’s proven network security expertise with Banyan’s innovative ZTNA technology, we are empowering our partners to deliver cloud-based security solutions that meet the diverse and dynamic needs of the modern workforce in the META region.”
The announcement comes on the heels of SonicWall’s acquisition of Solutions Granted, Inc (SGI), which helped arm the channel with the latest managed detection and response services tailor-made for Managed Service Providers and Managed Security Service Providers.