[Digital Today reporter Chi-gyu Hwang] Global security companies are accelerating efforts to target South Korean firms looking to respond to new security threats stemming from the spread of AI. Recently, moves by global security players to build service infrastructure directly in Korea have also been gaining pace.

Cisco, which promotes an integrated network and security strategy, has been operating a Secure Access Korea PoP (point of presence) since July as part of efforts to strengthen localisation capabilities. That allows users to use Cisco’s security platform without worrying about data leaving Korea. Palo Alto Networks Korea is also emphasising cooperation with Korean companies as part of efforts to expand its share of the local security market.

Palo Alto Networks Korea has built a system with Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance and legal services firms that provides everything from cyber insurance before a hack to legal support after a hack. It is also active in training talent by running security academies with Seoul IT High School, Dongguk University and Daejeon University. It also agreed to respond jointly to cyber threats in the frontier AI era through cooperation with ITcen PNS and offensive security specialist ENKI WhiteHat. Earlier, F5 set up a new point of presence in Korea for its Distributed Cloud Service.

ㆍ"Network and security must be integrated to properly respond to AI threats... Localisation accelerates with service infrastructure in Korea" ㆍ"Prepare on the assumption that a mythos-class AI will hack" ㆍITcen PNS-Palo Alto Networks-ENKI WhiteHat... cooperation to respond to AI-driven security threats

Moves by AI model companies to acquire specialist firms as part of efforts to strengthen security are also drawing attention. Canadian AI company Cohere signed a letter of intent to acquire U.S. security startup AISLE, based in San Francisco, which specialises in AI-based software vulnerability detection. OpenAI is also reported to be pursuing an acquisition of security firm Trail of Bits, which specialises in finding and fixing open-source software security vulnerabilities.

ㆍCohere seeks to acquire AISLE, an AI-based vulnerability detection security startup ㆍOpenAI pushes to acquire Trail of Bits, a security firm that catches open-source vulnerabilities

Other domestic and foreign company moves and issues surrounding security were also compiled.

Piolink used its self-developed CTEM (continuous threat exposure management)-based cyber threat management platform BlueHunter to find 28 new vulnerabilities in open-source software that had not previously been known. Susa I&T, an integrated information security company, signed a cooperation agreement with U.S. network observation and analysis company cPacket Networks for joint solution supply and business cooperation in the global market. Cloud security company Tatum Security officially registered its CNAPP (Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform) solution in the Security category of Samsung SDS’ public cloud service, Samsung Cloud Platform (SCP).

ㆍPiolink finds 28 previously unknown open-source vulnerabilities with BlueHunter ㆍSusa I&T cooperates with U.S. network observation and analysis firm cPacket on global business ㆍTatum Security provides CNAPP service on Samsung SDS public cloud platform

AhnLab built a security system to enable the use of generative AI and the internet within the Korea Research Foundation’s work network under the Korea Internet & Security Agency’s 2026 support project for adopting the national network security system (N2SF). AI-based offensive cyber security company Theori recently conducted an in-depth analysis of ARTEX, an AI security tool whose usage traces were confirmed in a recent security incident in South Korea’s financial sector, and published a white paper containing threats and countermeasures verified through its own experiments. Tving appointed Tae-ho Guk (국태호) as chief information security officer to advance its information security system.

ㆍAhnLab supports Korea Research Foundation N2SF application... "Use generative AI and internet on work network" ㆍTheori releases white paper with in-depth analysis of AI hacking tool ARTEX ㆍTving appoints new CISO Tae-ho Guk... strengthens information security system

British offensive security startup CodeWl raised $4 million in investment. CodeWl provides companies including banks with AI agents that directly attack them like external hackers. Google DeepMind developed a fraud detection AI model that runs on smartphones with Singapore’s Government Technology Agency (GovTech Singapore). Quantum computing company IonQ will acquire cyber security startup Elicity for $1.3 billion. Security company ThreatBook also acquired the open-source AI penetration testing platform CyberStrikeAI.

ㆍOffensive security startup CodeWl raises $4 million... "Replaces penetration testing" ㆍGoogle DeepMind develops Singapore-tailored fraud detection AI model... runs on device ㆍQuantum computing firm IonQ to acquire cyber security startup Elicity for $1.3 billion ㆍThreatBook acquires AI penetration testing platform CyberStrikeAI

Anthropic launched a programme supporting security companies that protect critical infrastructure such as power grids and water facilities by providing frontier models and on-site engineers. Elastic unveiled AlertZero, an AI agent team designed to reduce alert overload at security operations centres.

ㆍAnthropic launches OT security support programme... also unveils free open-source vulnerability scanner ㆍElastic unveils AlertZero, an AI agent that reduces security alert overload

A series of hacks targeting the financial sector recently led to confirmed security incidents at 16 financial companies, and about 100,000 cases of information were found to have been leaked. An emergency inspection of 555 financial companies by financial authorities also found security management shortcomings at 130 of them.

ㆍ100,000 cases of information leaked in financial sector hacking... Financial Services Commission strengthens CEOs' responsibility for security management