Kyndryl and Microsoft Collaborate to Enhance Data Security and Risk Management
Rhea-AI Summary
Kyndryl (NYSE: KD) has announced the launch of Kyndryl Consult Data Security Posture Management in collaboration with Microsoft, utilizing Microsoft Purview. The new services enhance data protection, privacy, and risk mitigation capabilities across hybrid environments.
The partnership aims to help organizations identify sensitive data, automate protection, and maximize data assets value. According to the Kyndryl AI Readiness Report, while 86% of leaders are confident in their AI implementation, only 29% believe their AI is ready to manage future risks.
The services provide: proactive data risk management, simplified IT environment management, comprehensive data protection across cloud and on-premises environments, enhanced compliance readiness, and secure data foundation for AI development.
Positive
- Strategic partnership with Microsoft strengthens Kyndryl's security service offerings
- Membership in Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) enhances market position
- Earned Microsoft Identity and Access Management Specialization certification
Negative
- Low confidence (29%) in AI risk management readiness among surveyed organizations indicates significant market challenges
Insights
Kyndryl's new Microsoft-powered security service addresses critical enterprise data protection needs while establishing AI readiness foundations.
The new Kyndryl Consult Data Security Posture Management service represents a strategic market entry addressing critical enterprise challenges around data security and governance. By leveraging Microsoft Purview's capabilities, Kyndryl is targeting the increasingly complex landscape of hybrid environments where centralized data management has become essential yet elusive for many organizations.
The offering's focus on automated discovery, classification and protection directly addresses a significant market gap highlighted in Kyndryl's own research. Their AI Readiness Report revealed a concerning disconnect: while
The technical architecture provides several practical advantages:
- Automated discovery capabilities that scale across diverse IT environments
- Built-in encryption and data loss prevention to enforce consistent protection policies
- Centralized visibility across entire data landscapes
- Policy-driven security controls with detailed audit trails
What makes this offering particularly timely is how it bridges current security needs with future AI aspirations. By establishing proper data governance foundations now, Kyndryl is creating a logical pathway for organizations to implement responsible AI later – addressing the preparation gap their research identified while creating opportunities for future service engagements.
Kyndryl strengthens its strategic Microsoft alliance with new security services that position it for growth in high-demand enterprise security markets.
This announcement marks a meaningful expansion of Kyndryl's strategic partnership with Microsoft, which was initially established in November 2021. The new Consult Data Security Posture Management service represents Kyndryl's continued evolution beyond traditional infrastructure management into higher-value security and governance services.
Several indicators suggest this is more than just a routine product announcement:
- Kyndryl's formal membership in the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA)
- Their recent achievement of the Microsoft Identity and Access Management Specialization
- The strategic positioning of security as an enabler for responsible AI adoption
The service design reflects Kyndryl's pragmatic partnership strategy – leveraging Microsoft's established Purview technology while focusing Kyndryl's resources on implementation expertise and consulting capabilities. This approach allows for faster market entry without extensive proprietary technology development.
Most notably, Kyndryl is positioning this service to transform data security from "a compliance necessity into a strategic advantage" – language that signals their intent to elevate security conversations from cost-center discussions to strategic business enablement. By connecting security foundations to future AI capabilities, Kyndryl is creating natural pathways for customer engagement beyond initial security implementations.
New Kyndryl services using Microsoft Purview help organizations improve data discovery, protection and AI readiness
The new services combine Kyndryl's consult expertise with Microsoft's advanced security technologies to help customers identify sensitive data, automate protection and maximize the value of their data assets. This capability is especially important in today's digital landscape, where robust data management and security are essential for protecting sensitive information to realize the full potential of AI at scale. In fact, the Kyndryl AI Readiness Report revealed that while
"Organizations face tremendous challenges with managing complex IT environments while protecting sensitive data and meeting regulatory requirements," said Tony De Bos, Vice President of Security & Resiliency, Kyndryl. "Our collaboration with Microsoft enables us to help customers build more resilient environments that transform data security from a compliance necessity into a strategic advantage. By strengthening data discovery, classification and protection, we are not only improving security posture but also creating the cyber resilient foundation necessary for trusted, sustainable AI adoption that delivers real business value."
"Through this collaboration with Kyndryl, we are empowering customers to significantly bolster their data security, simplify their risk management processes, and build a robust foundation for responsible AI," said Ricardo Davila, General Manager, GSI, Microsoft. "Together, we are enabling customers to protect their data across complex environments, so they can deliver new innovations, and achieve enhanced levels of efficiency and security."
Through its services, Kyndryl provides customers with:
- Proactive data risk management via Microsoft Purview's automated discovery, classification and protection to continuously monitor and mitigate security risks. Built-in encryption, data loss prevention and compliance management enable organizations to enforce policies that reduce data breaches and unauthorized access.
- Simplified IT environment by reducing complexity and risk exposure through a unified approach to data protection that seamlessly integrates with existing systems and processes, providing organizations centralized visibility of their entire data landscape.
- Comprehensive data protection and data asset security in cloud and on-premises environments. This includes capabilities that can help to identify sensitive data and prevent unintentional sharing of sensitive data, quickly identify risk indicators, and prioritize and act on potential risky activity.
- Enhanced risk and compliance readiness to help customers meet their regulatory requirements, utilizing Kyndryl's expertise in data privacy and security combined with Microsoft Purview's policy-driven security controls and detailed audit trails to deliver consistent data protection across global operations.
- Secure data foundation for AI via a strong data foundation that supports secure management of sensitive information, helping to enable responsible data use and establishing the framework necessary for responsible AI development.
Since establishing their global strategic alliance in November 2021, Kyndryl and Microsoft have built upon their successful partnership to develop differentiated, scalable security and resiliency services. Kyndryl is a member of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), an ecosystem of independent software vendors (ISVs) and managed security service providers (MSSPs) that have integrated their solutions with Microsoft Security technology to better defend mutual customers against a world of increasing cyber threats. Kyndryl also recently earned the Microsoft Identity and Access Management Specialization for experience in designing, deploying and managing complex customer solutions centered around Microsoft Entra ID.
Visit the Kyndryl and Microsoft alliance page for more information on the strategic partnership.
About Kyndryl
Kyndryl (NYSE: KD) is a leading provider of mission-critical enterprise technology services offering advisory, implementation and managed service capabilities to thousands of customers in more than 60 countries. As the world's largest IT infrastructure services provider, the Company designs, builds, manages and modernizes the complex information systems that the world depends on every day. For more information, visit www.kyndryl.com.
Forward-looking statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements often contain words such as "aim," "anticipate," "believe," "contemplate," "could," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "intend," "may," "objectives," "opportunity," "plan," "position," "predict," "project," "should," "seek," "target," "will," "would" and other similar words or expressions or the negative thereof or other variations thereon. All statements other than statements of historical fact, including without limitation statements concerning the Company's plans, objectives, goals, beliefs, business strategies, future events, business condition, results of operations, financial position, business outlook and business trends and other non-historical statements, are forward-looking statements. These statements do not guarantee future performance and speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligations to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Actual outcomes or results may differ materially from those suggested by forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties including those described in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and may be further updated from time to time in the Company's subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Kyndryl press contact
press@kyndryl.com
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SOURCE Kyndryl
FAQ
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