LevelBlue Expands AI Cyber Defense with Trustwave Buy

LevelBlue, the managed security provider formerly known as AT&T Cybersecurity, is making another significant move, announcing plans to acquire Trustwave, a well-established managed detection and response (MDR) company. This follows closely on the heels of LevelBlue’s agreement to acquire Aon’s cybersecurity consulting group (formerly Stroz Friedberg), signaling a serious strategy to scale and solidify its position as the largest pure-play MSSP in the industry. 

Risk management and MDR combine for stronger protection

The acquisition will combine LevelBlue’s strategic risk management and AI-powered threat detection platform with Trustwave’s Fusion Platform, a cloud-native MDR offering that delivers 24/7 cybersecurity protection. The integration also brings Trustwave’s renowned SpiderLabs threat research team under the LevelBlue umbrella, uniting offensive and defensive capabilities under one roof.

“The acquisition of Trustwave represents a pivotal moment for LevelBlue and the cybersecurity industry,” said Robert McCullen, chairman and CEO of LevelBlue. “Trustwave’s extensive expertise in managed detection and response services, combined with its unparalleled threat intelligence from SpiderLabs and mission-critical FedRAMP and StateRAMP authorizations, perfectly aligns with our vision to deliver simplified and powerful cybersecurity protection to organizations.”

Compliance meets capability in the public sector

This deal is both about expanding capabilities and signaling readiness. Earlier this year, Trustwave became the first pure-play MDR provider to reach full FedRAMP authorization, along with its StateRAMP credentials. That positions LevelBlue to meet the Department of Defense’s strict “U.S. eyes only” requirement for cybersecurity providers serving the Defense Industrial Base. As federal and state agencies tighten cybersecurity mandates under CMMC, the acquisition creates a go-to partner for public sector clients needing certified MDR coverage.

“The combination of LevelBlue’s AI threat detection and Trustwave’s FedRAMP and StateRAMP authorized Fusion Intelligent Security Operations Platform enables leading-edge cybersecurity protection for enterprises and government clients, said Chad Sweet, chairman of Trustwave and co-founder of The Chertoff Group / MC2.

Consolidation, scale, and the future of AI-driven defense

This move also continues the trend of consolidation we’re seeing in the MSS/MDR space. AI, automation, and scale are no longer nice-to-haves; they’ve become table stakes. Trustwave adds more than 1,000 security professionals, advanced penetration testing, email and database security, and SpiderLabs’ threat hunting firepower to the mix. LevelBlue, in turn, brings to the mix AI-powered detection, cloud-native infrastructure, and its Open Threat Exchange (OTX) to boost MDR performance and visibility across hybrid environments.

“Trustwave’s SpiderLabs team and Fusion platform integrated with LevelBlue’s threat intelligence and machine learning capabilities, backed by the Open Threat Exchange (OTX), will enhance threat detection and response on a cloud-based platform,” said Christina Richmond, principal analyst, Richmond Advisory Group.

AI is kicking cybersecurity into high gear in a completely new way. From adaptive threat detection to automated response orchestration, the future of defense lies in scalable, intelligent systems. With this deal, LevelBlue is rolling its AI tanks onto the cyber battlefield. 

Cybersecurity company Trend Micro recently launched a new AI Agent meant to drive proactive security outcomes. Read more about Trend Cybertron, a specialized cybersecurity large language model (LLM) designed to predict and prevent threats.