Security


FIVE WAYS PARTNERS CAN HELP CUSTOMERS STAY AHEAD OF AI-POWERED THREAT ACTORS


Why the channel can play a leading, strategic role in helping customers adapt to a new generation of foundational models, by Daniel Hurel, Senior Vice President, Westcon EMEA Go-To-Market at Westcon-Comstor.


E


very major technology shiſt rewrites the rules of cybersecurity, from cloud- driven infrastructure changes to the rise


of identity-first access and new approaches to response. Now, a new generation of foundational AI


models, notably Anthropic’s Claude Mythos and OpenAI’s GPT 5.4-Cyber, is reshaping how quickly security vulnerabilities can be discovered and exploited. For years, organisations have worked on the


assumption that there is at least some breathing space between a vulnerability emerging and attackers turning it into a working exploit. Tat window was already narrowing, and in the AI era this process is accelerating. Treat actors don’t need to reinvent their


tradecraſt from scratch to benefit – they simply need better tools to accelerate it. For channel partners, this is an important


moment. Customers are paying attention, but many are


still trying to work out what the real implications are. Tey need a clear view of how the risk is


24 | July/August 2026


changing, where existing assumptions no longer hold and what practical steps they should now be taking. Tis means there is a strategic opportunity for


partners to finally move away from conversations about products and one-off technology solutions, and instead lead strategic discussions about how customers can adapt their security posture to a faster-moving risk environment. Tat creates openings for advisory services,


assessment work, policy design, managed security support and longer-term transformation programmes. Against this backdrop, here are five measures that partners should prioritise.


1. Move from patch volume to risk- based prioritisation Patch management is still essential, and as threats become more adaptive and immediate, the challenge for partners is to broaden their approach to meet changing customer needs. Most organisations already know they cannot patch everything, everywhere, all at once. Te


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