How Check Point Has Built Its AI Security Platform With M&A

As enterprises adopt artificial intelligence across assistance, delegation and autonomous interaction phases, Check Point is changing its security model to strengthen real-time protection and proactive defense.

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CEO Nadav Zafrir said the platform security titan has doubled down on network connectivity, workspace defense, exposure management and AI runtime security to deliver end-to-end, adaptive cybersecurity. Acquisitions of Veriti and Cyberint bolstered threat exposure and remediation capabilities, while a recent issuance of convertible notes positions the company for rapid M&A and talent investment, Zafrir said (see: Check Point Adds AI Application Defense With Lakera Purchase).

“Today, it’s still the first phase where we’re enhancing humans with LLMs or other AI capabilities, and so we need to do a lot of what we’ve done in the past, faster, more precise,” Zafrir said. “But when you start thinking about the next phases, when AI agents start interacting, that’s when you need to start thinking about the whole idea of security from a different perspective.”

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group, Zafrir also discussed:

• The emphasis on AI runtime security and real-time threat classification;
• How to train real-time security models for large language model threat protection;
• Why Check Point pivoted to focus on core areas rather than cloud native application protection.

Zafrir joined Check Point in December 2024. Previously, he was co-founder and managing partner at Team8, a venture group focused on cybersecurity, data and AI, fintech and digital health. In this capacity, he built and invested in over 40 companies. Prior to Team8, Zafrir established the Israel Defense Forces’ Cyber Command and served as commander of the elite Unit 8200, retiring as a brigadier general.