Sophos has announced a partnership with OpenAI to bring frontier AI models to managed service providers (MSPs) through Sophos Fusion, which the company describes as the industry’s most complete AI-native cybersecurity defence system. The tie-up gives partners a way to deliver frontier AI security as one connected defence system and build recurring services on top of it.

Sophos Fusion runs on a single, open architecture where every control point, whether native to Sophos or a third-party integration, operates as one. The partnership extends that model by bringing OpenAI’s frontier models into a defence system that already connects endpoint, network, email, cloud, identity and security operations, compounding intelligence from every threat it encounters.

“Frontier AI only protects organizations at scale when you have the architecture to operationalize it and the reach to deliver it. Sophos Fusion will give OpenAI models a defense system to work inside: connected control points, shared context, and human accountability. Our channel gives them reach through a global network of more than 25,000 partners, including over 7,000 MSPs. For those partners, it opens a new class of AI security services to build a business on,” said John Peterson, Chief Technology Officer, Sophos.

Extending the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partnership

The partnership builds on the existing relationship between Sophos and OpenAI through the OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program, under which OpenAI works with cybersecurity companies to build governed solutions that help security teams identify, validate and remediate threats faster. This deepens that work with a dedicated focus on MSPs.

Sophos is also using the partnership to defend the AI organisations are adopting. Through Sophos AI Defense, available for early access in August 2026, Sophos gives organisations visibility into how AI and shadow AI are used across their environment, enforces usage policy, and helps govern how sensitive data moves through AI models and tools.

• Sophos Fusion connects endpoint, network, email, cloud, identity and security operations in one system
• Partnership extends the existing OpenAI Daybreak Cyber Partner Program
• Sophos AI Defense enters early access in August 2026
• Sophos defends more than 625,000 organisations worldwide via a network of 25,000+ partners, including 7,000+ MSPs

MSPs Positioned to Turn Frontier AI into Services

Sophos argues MSPs are well placed to convert frontier AI capabilities into practical security outcomes because they already operate the workflows organisations rely on. Pairing Sophos Fusion’s coordinated defence system with OpenAI’s models is intended to help approved partners sharpen detection, investigation and response, and build new services tailored to customer needs.

“Many of our clients are adopting AI at rapid speed, and they’re asking us how to stay secure while they do it. Seeing a leader in security and a leader in AI commit to working together on exactly that challenge means we can offer a strong answer for our clients, and new services to grow on,” said Alex Ryals, CISO and SVP at MicroAge, a Sophos partner.

Sophos said further details of the partnership and potential offerings will be shared in the coming months.