Dell and CrowdStrike are teaming up today to assist businesses in combating cyberattacks using AI to defend against generative AI, stealth social engineering, and endpoint attacks. Dell is incorporating CrowdStrike’s Falcon extended detection and response (XDR) platform into its existing managed detection and response (MDR) service.
XDR platforms are created to integrate across an organization’s numerous data sources, utilizing APIs and an open architecture to aggregate and analyze telemetry data. The real-time availability of access, endpoint, email, network, and web-based app telemetry data aids XDR platforms in achieving measurable improvements in attack detection and response. They have demonstrated to be one of the ideal applications for AI in cybersecurity.
By integrating CrowdStrike’s Falcon XDR platform into its current Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service, Dell equips its global network of resellers with AI-based technologies that their customers require to combat attacks. Dell’s resellers will also provide tailored services to their customers, utilizing CrowdStrike’s XDR platform as the cornerstone.
“Collaborating with industry leaders like CrowdStrike is crucial for providing customers with choice and flexibility in a highly fragmented and complex security environment,” stated Mihir Maniar, Vice President of Infrastructure, Edge, and Security Services Portfolio at Dell Technologies, to VentureBeat.
AI threats fast-tracking the vision to reality
There has been a substantial growth in new nation-states and activist attackers over the past year. Their proficiency in utilizing gen AI for attacks on financial institutions and creating deep fake videos of a company’s CFO authorizing a $25 million transfer that went unnoticed served as a wake-up call for all businesses.
Attackers have long been aware of how to evade traditional, perimeter-based security and are targeting vulnerable sectors such as education, healthcare, and manufacturing. Seventy-five percent of attacks were free of malware, making them challenging to detect and prevent. Identities are also under threat, with attackers adept at harvesting them from an endpoint and spreading across a network. The average breakout time for eCrime intrusion activity decreased from 79 minutes in 2022 to 62 minutes in 2023.
“The partnership combines the top technology with the Falcon platform that prevents breaches, along with the right services to simplify cybersecurity and make it effective for organizations of all sizes,” explained Daniel Bernard, Chief Business Officer of CrowdStrike, to VentureBeat.
Dell gains an AI arsenal to help customers battle threats
Dell’s reseller community encompasses a wide range of businesses, including those most susceptible to attacks. Many city and county governments, regional healthcare providers, public school districts, pharmacy chains, and mid-tier manufacturers do not allocate budgets for cybersecurity. Attackers view them as easy targets and often conduct surveillance to identify the most vulnerable to ransomware, data theft, and double-extortion attacks.
The combination of AI with MDR is proving to be an effective defense against breaches. It is the essential tool that every small and mid-size business should have in its arsenal.
A clear example of this is how the city of Las Vegas thwarted a breach. Michael Sherwood, Chief Innovation and Technology Officer for Las Vegas, explained to VentureBeat how MDR saved the city from an attack.
Sherwood stated, “Thanks to the swift collaboration of our teams, AI-based insights, and understanding of how attackers attempted to navigate the network, there were no data losses or major issues. AI and advanced analytics enable us to detect subtle anomalies and enhance the efficiency of the city’s security team. We were back to normal operations within 24 hours.”
Sales of cybersecurity software, hardware, and services through channels are currently generating nearly $80 billion in revenue. On average, partners earn $2 in services for every $1 earned on software and hardware. Canalys research indicates that among all categories and sub-categories, channel services are projected to grow the fastest over the next 4-5 years.
“CrowdStrike is outpacing the overall cybersecurity market,” stated Jay McBain, Chief Analyst at Canalys. “It has positioned itself as one of the fastest-growing cybersecurity companies in the channel over the past 5-6 years.”
With a significant portion of its total revenue reliant on channels, CrowdStrike is expected to continue investing in partnerships. Their collaboration with Dell is mutually beneficial, with Dell’s reseller channel gaining access to a proven AI-based platform to expand service offerings, and CrowdStrike extending its reach to more resellers and customers.
“CrowdStrike empowers partners to help businesses of all sizes prevent breaches. Our AI-native platform, purpose-driven team, and leading partner program are designed to ensure long-term customer success,” added Bernard.
This shared vision predicts the future of AI security
The future of AI security is shaped by the combination of human intelligence, insight, and intuition with AI’s capacity to analyze data at scale to uncover new insights. Relying solely on data for cyber defense puts every business at a disadvantage against attackers. Real-time telemetry-based warnings of anomalous behavior or breaches are no longer sufficient. MDR brings essential human insight into understanding the progression of potential threats, from manual attacks to highly automated ones using gen AI.
By Louis Columbus
Originally published on VentureBeat
