Kyndryl Introduces SASE Collaboration With Palo Alto Networks

Kyndryl, an IT infrastructure and services provider, recently launched end-to-end, secure access service edge (SASE) services that will be combined with Palo Alto Networks Prisma SASE powered by Precision AI.

Collaboration brings cloud-first approach to zero-trust security

These services will allow customers to enhance network security by adopting a cloud-first, zero-trust network security solution. Further, by supporting Palo Alto Networks Prisma SASE, Kyndryl’s new services integrate network and security into a unified cloud-delivered service. Prisma SASE provides organizations with granular control over user authentication and authorization. This will enable secure access to business applications and edge and IoT technologies.

“To mitigate operational risk, business leaders need to prioritize upgrading IT infrastructure and enhancing cybersecurity measures, as research shows that nearly half of the world’s mission-critical business technology is out-of-date or nearing end-of-life,” said Paul Savill, Global Practice Leader of Network and Edge Computing at Kyndryl. “As AI becomes a key focus for many organizations, our new SASE services for Palo Alto Networks’ AI-powered Prisma SASE solution, will enable businesses to transform securely by adopting a true zero-trust approach to protect against cyber threats in real-time.”

The end-to-end SASE services by Kyndryl include:

• Kyndryl Consult Advisory Services– Kyndryl can conduct end-to-end network maturity and security health assessment of the customer’s current networking environment. The assessment will then recommend the best SASE and zero-trust approach based on the customer’s objectives and priorities.
• Kyndryl Design & Implementation Services– A collaborative approach is utilized to build and discuss the customer’s network modernization requirements, including a transition from Security Service Edge (SSE) or SD-WAN services to Palo Alto Networks Prisma SASE. A comprehensive design and deployment of the customers’ Prisma SASE environment is then applied, which includes testing, configuring, migrating existing users and services, and training for self-managed services.
• Kyndryl Managed SASE Services– Kyndryl offers end-to-end, 24/7 management of a customer’s platform with Prisma SASE deployed, including performing upgrades and health checks, continual optimization work, and integration with existing security operations center (SOC) and network operations center (NOC) platforms.
• Integration with Kyndryl Bridge– Kyndryl’s SD-WAN services are integrated with Kyndryl Bridge– the AI-powered, open-integration digital business platform to enable customers to observe, integrate, and orchestrate their entire technology environment and hybrid IT connectivity. Further, Kyndryl is integrating new SASE services onto Kyndryl Bridge to enhance the platform’s capabilities.

“Implementing a SASE approach is one of the biggest network and security initiatives for an organization to take on, requiring significant transformation,” said Kristy Friedrichs, the chief partnerships officer of Palo Alto Networks. “These organizations need a solution that helps them scale at the speed of their business, especially with a hybrid workforce and an ever-expanding threat landscape. We’re offering our joint customers exactly what they need to help them transform by combining Prisma SASE, the industry’s most complete AI-powered SASE solution, with Kyndryls’ new SASE services.”

These new SASE services expand upon Kyndryl’s partnership with Palo Alto Networks that already offers customers Prisma Access (SSE), next-generation firewall (NGFW), private 5G and OT security, as well as Security Operations as a platform (SOaaP), with Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR technology.

Kyndryl-Palo Alto Networks strategic global alliance

In late 2023, the New York City-based Kyndryl and Palo Alto Networks announced their strategic global alliance, established to provide end-to-end network and cybersecurity services.

The strategic alliance combined Palo Alto Networks’ platform security capabilities with Kyndryl’s network security service expertise to design, build, manage, and modernize mission-critical networking for customers across industries.

“At Kyndryl, we are at the forefront of helping enterprises with their network transformation to meet the growing trends of remote work, multi-devices usage, and cloud and data access. As organizations move away from traditional hardware-centric models to OPEX consumption models, the need for agile, highly secure and reliable networks is imperative,” said Stephen Leonard, the president of Kyndryl Germany. “We are delighted to partner with Palo Alto Networks to provide robust and versatile network security services that will provide many benefits to our customers.”

The partnership was established to assist businesses in delivering consistent security and an enhanced user experience for customers everywhere, and the fruit of this alliance is evident through Kyndryl’s new SASE services combined with Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma SASE.

Network security remains key to the rapid expansion of digital transformations. Learn more about a few of the top network security providers that offer solutions for organizations to defend against cyber threats.