Investments in artificial intelligence (AI) security products remained robust in March 2026, with security vendors intensifying their focus on AI technologies. Concurrently, AI firms are integrating security expertise into their operations through a series of mergers and acquisitions. Major transactions during the month included OpenAI’s acquisition of the AI security testing company Promptfoo and DataBricks’ acquisition of two startups to bolster its new Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) product. Google also finalized a significant deal first announced in 2025.
OpenAI, the organization behind the popular AI model ChatGPT, publicly announced its intention to acquire Promptfoo on March 9. This acquisition aims to enhance OpenAI’s capabilities in identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities in AI systems during the development process. Founded in 2024, Promptfoo’s tools are currently utilized by approximately a quarter of Fortune 500 companies. OpenAI plans to integrate Promptfoo’s offerings into OpenAI Frontier, its platform dedicated to building and operating AI agents. “Promptfoo brings deep engineering expertise in evaluating, securing, and testing AI systems at enterprise scale. Their work helps businesses deploy secure and reliable AI applications, and we’re excited to bring these capabilities directly into Frontier,” stated Srinivas Narayanan, CTO of B2B applications at OpenAI.
Prior to the announcement, Jamieson O’Reilly, a security advisor at OpenClaw, emphasized the necessity for the AI and cybersecurity sectors to develop enhanced methods for “scanning AI tools” to detect “human-language malware,” rather than relying solely on traditional file-based malware analysis. OpenAI’s acquisition of Promptfoo appears to align with this need.
On March 24, DataBricks, a cloud-based analytics and AI company, introduced Lakewatch, a new agentic SIEM solution designed to help organizations combat the rising tide of cyber-attacks utilizing malicious AI agents. The launch of Lakewatch coincided with DataBricks’ announcement of acquisitions involving the startups Antimatter and SiftD.ai. Antimatter, founded in 2022 by cybersecurity researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, specializes in secure authentication and authorization for AI agents. DataBricks completed this acquisition in late 2025, with the announcement made public in March 2026.
SiftD.ai, founded by the creator of Splunk’s Search Processing Language (SPL) and lead architects of Splunk’s search stack, launched its first product in November 2025. DataBricks indicated that acquiring SiftD.ai would enhance its capabilities in large-scale detection engineering and modern threat analytics, further fortifying its new SIEM offering.
On March 11, Leonardo, the multinational Italian aerospace, defense, and security company, announced its acquisition of British cybersecurity provider Becrypt. This acquisition forms part of Leonardo’s strategy to enhance its Zero Trust offerings. Founded in 2001, Becrypt provides secure desktop tools such as Becrypt OS and Becrypt Enterprise Manager, along with solutions for securing email and mobile devices. “This will accelerate the development of our secure platforms, ensuring that the critical sectors we serve have access to the most advanced tools required to maintain information superiority and digital security,” remarked Nick Hopkins, chairman of Becrypt.
Google also made headlines by completing its acquisition of Wiz, a cloud and AI security platform, on March 11. Initially announced in March 2025, the acquisition is valued at $32 billion and is aimed at improving Google Cloud’s security and facilitating rapid, secure development across any cloud or AI platform. “With this acquisition, we will deliver a unified security platform that simplifies the complex task of protecting multi-cloud environments in the AI era, making a strong security posture accessible to more companies and governments,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud.
The wave of acquisitions in AI security reflects a growing recognition of the importance of integrating security measures into AI technologies. As the landscape of cyber-attacks evolves, these strategic moves by major firms underscore the need for enhanced security protocols and innovative solutions to protect digital assets. The developments in March 2026 signal a transformative period where the lines between AI and cybersecurity are increasingly intertwined, setting the stage for future advancements in both fields.
See also
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Quantum Computing Threatens Current Cryptography, Experts Seek Solutions
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AI Poisoning Attacks Surge 40%: Businesses Face Growing Cybersecurity Risks
