Verizon adds Blackberry's Cylance AI-based security to its portfolio

Verizon has beefed up its managed security services portfolio with the addition of BlackBerry Cylance's AI-driven antivirus security solutions.

Cylance uses advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms to predict, detect and prevent both known and unknown attacks. Under the terms of the deal, BlackBerry's CylancePROTECT and CylanceOPTICS endpoint security products are now available for licensing and management by Verizon Managed Security Services.

CylancePROTECT prevents ransomware, fileless attacks, and other unknown threats from executing on an endpoint before they can do harm. BlackBerry claims that CylanceOPTICS is the industry's first AI-driven endpoint detection and response (EDR) product that delivers on-demand threat hunting and automated response capabilities.

"BlackBerry Cylance is the logical partner of choice given its ability to deliver protection against known and unknown malware, malicious scripts, fileless attacks, zero-day payloads, as well has harder to detect  'living off the land' assaults,'" said Verizon's Alex Schlager, executive director, security services, for global products and solutions, in a prepared statement. "Their prevention-first philosophy maps extremely well to our desire to help customers gain the upper hand on today's adversaries. "

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In addition to inclusion in Verizon's managed security service portfolio, BlackBerry Cylance's endpoint security intelligence is also used in the Verizon Risk Report security assessment framework. The framework helps companies make data-driven security decisions, identify security gaps and prioritize improvement actions, all of which gives companies a roadmap for their security spending.

Last month, BlackBerry completed its previously-announced $1.4 billion deal to buy Cylance, which was a privately-held cybersecurity company based in Irvine, California.