Dell Technologies Inc. has today expanded its cyber resilience portfolio to include identity systems by introducing PowerProtect software designed to restore compromised identity platforms to a secure and trusted state following an attack.
This enhancement focuses on identity as one of three key areas in the release. Two new services and additional functionalities for PowerProtect AI Assistant target environments driven by artificial intelligence, which Dell categorizes as high-value targets for cyber attackers. The update also introduces quantum-safe encryption for data in transit within Dell PowerStore arrays.
The identity restoration feature supports Microsoft’s Active Directory and Entra ID, as well as Okta Inc. By utilizing this platform, access controls are reinstated automatically, alleviating the burden on administrators who would otherwise need to manually rebuild them post-incident.
Detection capabilities are addressed through a new service, Dell Managed Detection and Response for Identity. This service provides continuous monitoring for suspicious authentication activities, compromised accounts, and privilege misuse. Upon identifying a predefined attack pattern, Dell analysts can initiate automated responses to mitigate the threat.
On the artificial intelligence front, Security Hardening for Dell AI Factory involves Dell experts evaluating a customer’s AI Factory deployment across physical, virtual, and application layers to identify configuration risks. Following this assessment, customers receive prioritized recommendations aimed at reducing exposure.
The second service, Resilience Operations for AI, starts by determining which AI functionalities are most critical to the business. Dell then develops recovery policies and procedures specific to those applications, enabling customers to formulate a tailored plan for reinstating them after a disruption.
Dell initially integrated an AI assistant into PowerProtect Data Manager in March. This upgraded version allows administrators to utilize a chat interface for tasks such as restores and reporting, alongside a daily risk brief that highlights potential issues poised to escalate. Any recommended actions must receive approval from an individual prior to execution.
Furthermore, PowerProtect enhances its storage offerings by automating retention-locked local snapshots on PowerScale systems, ensuring that customers have up-to-date copies for rapid recovery. With PowerScale SmartSync, a secondary copy of these snapshots can be directed to Dell ObjectScale for long-term retention.
The latest software release for PowerStore includes quantum-safe encryption, which is applicable to data transmitted over Fibre Channel connections. When paired with supported Dell PowerEdge servers, this encryption safeguards data against harvest-now, decrypt-later attacks, as stated by Dell.
Additionally, the company is introducing a Post-Quantum Readiness Assessment that evaluates an organization’s infrastructure and devices for vulnerable cryptography. The resulting inventory ranks risks based on their criticality to inform migration priorities.
Simon Jelley, Vice President of Cyber Resilience at Dell, remarked that many organizations still rely on tools and strategies intended for outdated threats to defend their AI environments and identity systems. He noted that attacks are evolving at a pace much faster than just a few months ago.
Details regarding the availability and pricing of the new services and capabilities have not been disclosed. The offerings are being showcased at the AI Cybersecurity and Resilience Summit, which is being streamed live on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s broadcasting studio.
