Sophos has launched Sophos X-Ops, a new cross-operational unit.
Cybersecurity firm Sophos has partnered with OpenAI to strengthen defences against a growing wave of AI-powered cyberattacks, a move that highlights how technology companies are increasingly turning to advanced artificial intelligence to stay ahead of hackers using the same tools.
The partnership comes through OpenAI’s Daybreak Cyber Partner Programme, which allows trusted cybersecurity companies to integrate OpenAI’s latest cyber-focused AI capabilities into their products and services.
The collaboration reflects a growing challenge facing businesses worldwide. Artificial intelligence is making it easier and faster for cybercriminals to identify software vulnerabilities, create attack tools, and exploit security weaknesses before organisations can respond.
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To address this threat, Sophos will use OpenAI’s technology to improve threat investigations, security assessments, and vulnerability management for the more than 625,000 organisations it protects globally. The company said the AI tools will be deployed under strict controls, with human analysts overseeing their use rather than allowing customers direct access to the models.
According to Sophos, its Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service already uses AI and automation to resolve more than half of security cases from start to finish. The company said the additional capabilities from OpenAI are expected to help security teams detect and respond to threats more quickly.
John Peterson, chief technology officer at Sophos, said access to advanced AI alone is not enough to improve cybersecurity. He noted that organizations need the right systems and processes to deploy the technology safely and effectively at scale.
The partnership also marks a significant step for OpenAI as it expands the use of its technology from research and testing into practical cybersecurity operations. Rather than giving organizations direct access to powerful cyber models, OpenAI is working through established security providers that already have the infrastructure and expertise to manage cyber risks.
The deal highlights a broader trend in cybersecurity. As attackers increasingly use AI to automate and accelerate attacks, security companies are responding by embedding AI into their own defense systems.
Sophos said its security platform is designed to stop attacks based on the techniques they use rather than the specific vulnerabilities they target. This approach, combined with AI-powered monitoring and response, is intended to help organizations defend against new and emerging threats.
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The partnership is expected to benefit organisations of all sizes through Sophos’ extensive network of managed service providers and channel partners, making advanced AI-driven cybersecurity tools available beyond large enterprises.
The announcement underscores a growing reality in the cybersecurity industry: as AI becomes a powerful tool for attackers, it is also becoming one of the most important tools for defending against them.
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