Check Point Enhances AI Application Defense Through Lakera Acquisition

Check Point Software has acquired Lakera, a startup focused on AI security, aiming to enhance end-to-end security for AI applications. This acquisition addresses the critical need to secure AI initiatives within organizations, safeguarding both employee usage and AI-powered applications.

Based in San Francisco, Lakera has garnered $30 million in funding, the latest being a $20 million Series A round led by Atomico in July 2024. Founded by AI expert David Haber, Lakera focuses on the complex challenges of trusting AI decision-making in operational contexts. Haber noted that the dynamic interactions between AI agents create unprecedented security challenges, emphasizing the need for reliable solutions.

Distinctive AI Security Approach

Modern AI agents execute autonomous decision-making and handle sensitive processes, thereby creating new vulnerabilities. The pressing concern is not just data leaks, but the trustworthiness of AI’s role in critical functions. Lakera seeks to broaden its impact by integrating with Check Point’s security framework, empowering a wider range of customers.

Roi Karo, Check Point’s Chief Strategy Officer, highlighted that Lakera’s decisive product strategy and specialist team were key factors in the acquisition’s attractiveness. By building its own foundational models, Lakera maintains better control over critical parameters such as performance and cost, setting it apart from competitors relying on third-party solutions.

During the evaluation, Check Point was impressed by Lakera’s technical sophistication and its ability to manage high-volume, real-time data demands. Lakera’s expertise in safety-critical AI across various sectors positions it as a valuable asset in the eyes of Check Point, which is seeking to lead in AI security.

Strategic Integration Plans

The first step in the integration process will involve embedding Lakera’s capabilities into Check Point’s GenAI Protect platform. This aims to secure AI use at the employee level and prevent the leakage of sensitive information. Karo emphasizes that this combination will revolutionize how organizations adopt AI responsibly.

In essence, Check Point’s existing GenAI Protect will provide safeguards for end-user devices, while Lakera’s technology will ensure the protection of applications processing organizational data. This comprehensive security architecture aims to enhance decision-making and operational efficiency across AI systems.

Check Point positions itself as a frontrunner in addressing AI security, claiming to have a ready-to-deploy, full-stack platform that combines employee, application, and infrastructure security in a cohesive manner. Karo asserts that by leveraging the strengths of both platforms, they are primed to take a leading role in the evolving AI landscape.