First-generation native security companies with more than 20 years of experience have declared their..

First-generation native security companies with more than 20 years of experience have declared their transformation into artificial intelligence (AI) companies one after another.

There is a sense of crisis that it is difficult to survive the cybersecurity competition only by selling individual security solutions, which have been business models of domestic security companies, along with strategic judgments to target security demands in the AI era.

According to the security industry on the 17th, first-generation security companies such as AhnLab, Pasu AI, and Jiran Bridge Soft are strengthening their AI-based cybersecurity businesses this year.

AhnLab, a leading company, officially declared its transition to an “AI native security company” at a press conference the day before. AhnLab has been selling solutions that cover all areas of cybersecurity, including network, cloud, and security control, including the ‘V3’ solution, a representative vaccine product. Beyond incorporating AI functions into each solution, AhnLab reorganized its entire product portfolio into an integrated brand called ‘AhnLab AI Plus’ and aimed at a platform centered on AI agents.

Some companies are taking strong drives against AI by changing their names. Data security company Pasu changed its name to ‘Pasoo AI’ in March this year, 26 years after its foundation. Pasu AI, which has been developing document security (DRM) solutions as its core business, has advanced beyond security to new AI transformation (AX) businesses, such as developing a giant language model (LLM) security solution as well as an enterprise AI platform ‘Elm’.

Jiranjikyosoft, which started as a first-generation venture in 1994, announced in July that it would merge its subsidiary Jiranjikyosdata and Next Intelligence Dot (NI) to transform it into a “secure AI office” platform company. This is to create synergy effects of AI-centered businesses by focusing on the capabilities of companies that have been in charge of security, data, and AI in one place.

The change in the security paradigm triggered by AI is behind the massive change of traditional security companies that already have a solid foundation in Korea. As cybersecurity attackers begin to use AI for penetration, the frequency and speed of cyberattacks have increased dramatically, and the market is increasingly in demand for AI security solutions to effectively respond to them. As not only global companies but also AI security startups are emerging one after another, strengthening AI-based competitiveness has become a necessity in order for first-generation security companies to maintain their position.

Meanwhile, Raon Secure, one of the first-generation mobile security companies, expanded and reorganized its AI research institute into its AI business headquarters this year and collaborated with AI startup Upstage to develop an AI-based security automation platform. Igloo Corporation, a security control company, is focusing on autonomous security operation center (SOC) technology that combines AI agents.

[Reporter Jeong Hojun]