Sophos partners with OpenAI to bring frontier AI to MSPs

Sophos has announced a partnership with OpenAI to bring frontier AI models to managed service providers (MSPs) through Sophos Fusion, its AI-native cybersecurity platform.

The partnership will embed OpenAI frontier models into Sophos Fusion's existing defence architecture, which connects endpoint, network, email, cloud, identity and security operations in a single system. Sophos said the intent is to give MSPs access to frontier AI inside the platform they already run, rather than requiring them to integrate a separate tool.

Sophos said MSPs will be able to use the combined capability to enhance detection, investigation and response, and to build new recurring security services for their customers.

The announcement also covers AI Defence, which gives organisations visibility into how AI and shadow AI is used across their environment, enforces usage policy, and helps govern how sensitive data flows across AI models and tools.

Sophos said it intends to extend that protection in partnership with OpenAI, covering AI workloads, data and usage as part of the same connected defence system.

The partnership builds on an existing relationship through the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program, which Sophos said brings cybersecurity companies together with OpenAI to develop governed solutions for defenders and build new security workflows.

"Frontier AI only protects organisations at scale when you have the architecture to operationalise it and the reach to deliver it," said John Peterson, chief technology officer at Sophos.

"Sophos Fusion will give OpenAI models a defense system to work inside: connected control points, shared context, and human accountability. Our channel gives them reach through a global network of more than 25,000 partners, including over 7,000 MSPs. For those partners, it opens a new class of AI security services to build a business on."