CrowdStrike is expanding Project QuiltWorks, its industry-wide framework for addressing security risks tied to frontier AI, to small and midsize businesses (SMBs).
The expansion will make QuiltWorks available to SMBs through distributors, cloud marketplaces, MSPs, and other channel partners, giving smaller organizations access to AI-driven vulnerability discovery and prioritization, expert-led remediation, and cyber risk protection that many have lacked the resources or expertise to operationalize on their own.
Channel partners bring QuiltWorks to SMBs
According to CrowdStrike, Arrow Electronics, Ignition Technology, Nord Security, Pax8, TD SYNNEX, Westcon-Comstor, and Zip Security will help bring Project QuiltWorks to SMBs through their global partner, MSP, and MSSP networks.
These networks will extend access to the coalition’s AI-driven vulnerability discovery and prioritization, remediation services, and financial protection.
“Frontier AI has fundamentally shifted cybersecurity from risk management to business imperative,” said Daniel Bernard, chief business officer at CrowdStrike.
“SMBs are the backbone of the global economy and need the same standard of protection as the world’s largest enterprises. QuiltWorks has proven itself that standard, attempted by others, replicated by none. The channel is how QuiltWorks can reach every organization, regardless of size, sector, or geography.”
Project QuiltWorks is a CrowdStrike-led industry coalition focused on helping organizations identify and address vulnerabilities as frontier AI accelerates vulnerability discovery and makes it more accessible.
The initiative uses frontier models from OpenAI and Anthropic and brings together partners including Accenture, EY, IBM Cybersecurity Services, and Kroll.
Pax8 and TD SYNNEX see partner opportunity
CrowdStrike said the expansion comes as more capable AI models make it easier for attackers to discover, chain, and exploit vulnerabilities at greater speed and scale.
The company argues that SMBs are particularly exposed because many lack the resources and expertise needed to deploy and manage advanced vulnerability detection and remediation capabilities on their own.
Pax8 Chief Business Officer Robert Belgrave echoed these concerns, emphasizing the need for SMBs to have access to the same enterprise-grade security capabilities as larger organizations as AI makes sophisticated attacks easier to launch and scale.
“As advanced attacks become easier to launch and scale, SMBs need access to the same level of protection as enterprise organizations,” said Belgrave.
“With the QuiltWorks alliance, CrowdStrike and Pax8 are helping bring enterprise-grade cybersecurity to the SMB market through managed service providers and managed intelligence providers in the trusted channel community, giving businesses the tools, expertise, and guidance they need to stay resilient in the AI era,” he continued.
Meanwhile, Mike Allers, vice president of security at TD SYNNEX North America, highlighted QuiltWorks as an opportunity for channel partners to offer SMB customers advanced security capabilities while building repeatable services around the Falcon platform.
“Our partners already serve SMBs around the world, putting them on the front lines of how frontier AI is changing cybersecurity. Project QuiltWorks gives them a scalable way to bring advanced protection, expert-led remediation and cyber risk support to customers that may not have the resources to operationalize these capabilities on their own.”
“By combining the Falcon platform with the reach and technical expertise of TD SYNNEX and our partner ecosystem, we can help more organizations improve resilience to those customers while creating a repeatable new growth opportunity for their businesses.”
MSPs gain a new cybersecurity services opportunity
The expanded initiative points to a cybersecurity market increasingly aware of the capabilities and lower barriers to entry that AI technologies can provide to malicious actors. This comes alongside broader concerns around AI governance and vulnerabilities as organizations of all sizes continue to adopt AI at a rapid pace.
For MSPs, the shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Beyond helping SMBs defend against AI-powered threats, providers can help customers keep pace with a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
With many SMBs lacking the resources or in-house expertise to address these risks on their own, MSPs have an opportunity to serve as trusted advisors, providing the security expertise and guidance needed to navigate emerging AI-related threats.
Kiteworks recently launched AHEP, a new capability designed to detect risky outbound emails and prevent sensitive data from being sent to the wrong recipients. Read more about how the offering extends Kiteworks’ enterprise data governance platform to address human error in email.