How is AI changing the work of managed security service providers? In this Channel Insider: Partner POV interview, Optiv's Kathryn Hall, senior vice president of managed security services, and Steve Fielder, vice president of engineering and AI solutions, discuss Optiv’s approach to AI security and evolving customer needs.
They explain how they’re evaluating AI security tools, addressing AI governance, and using automation to support security analysts while keeping people involved in decisions. The conversation also explores continuous exposure management, the value of business context, and why adopting AI calls for redesigning workflows and reskilling teams.
For IT channel service and solutions providers, the discussion offers a look at building deeper customer partnerships, adapting managed security services, and helping customers decide what to handle internally and where to seek outside expertise.
00:00 AI and cybersecurity converge
01:27 Meet the guests
02:02 Evolving the security services model
04:30 Evaluating AI tools and governing adoption
08:09 Changing customer priorities
11:54 AI defenses and the security analyst’s role
19:37 Connecting security services with business context
23:41 Security’s role in AI transformation
26:34 Operationalizing AI, workflows, and reskilling
34:01 Advice for security leaders
38:05 What to build internally or outsource