Security News

Fortinet Buys Virtue AI to Strengthen AI Security Offerings

Security Week · 18 Aug 2026

Key Takeaway If your business uses AI tools or platforms, start asking vendors what security measures are in place to protect those AI systems from misuse or data leaks.

Cybersecurity vendor Fortinet has announced the acquisition of Virtue AI, a company specialising in securing artificial intelligence systems. The deal will see Virtue AI's technology integrated into Fortinet's existing security portfolio, extending protection to AI models, AI-powered applications, and increasingly common 'agentic' AI systems that can act autonomously.

The move reflects a broader trend among major security vendors racing to address risks introduced by the rapid adoption of AI tools across businesses. As organisations of all sizes begin using AI for tasks like customer service, data analysis, and automation, securing these systems from misuse, manipulation, or data leakage is becoming a growing priority for vendors and customers alike.

For small and medium businesses, this acquisition signals that AI security is moving from a niche concern to a mainstream part of cybersecurity offerings. While the direct impact on smaller organisations may take time to materialise through product updates, it highlights the importance of considering AI-specific risks when adopting new AI tools or platforms.

AI Security Fortinet Mergers and Acquisitions

Summarised by CISO AI from Security Week. We link back to every original so you can read it yourself.