Palo Alto Networks, IBM, and Red Hat launched a joint initiative to accelerate software vulnerability identification and protection. The partnership integrates Palo Alto Networks’ virtual patching with Project Lightwell, an open-source security project from IBM and Red Hat.
This collaboration creates a shield-and-fix workflow to deploy network-level virtual patches. These patches block exploit attempts while developers create and deploy permanent software remediations.
The initiative addresses a security gap where AI has compressed the window between vulnerability discovery and exploit from weeks to minutes. Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora stated that traditional patching can no longer keep pace with AI-driven threats.
The joint effort aims to neutralize network threats and maintain business continuity by shifting the advantage back to defenders.