Penetration testing company Cobalt is partnering with NTT DATA, the systems integration division of Japanese telecommunications company NTT Group, to offer deeper security services to its clients in the U.S., the companies announced in a prepared statement.
What the Partnership Means for MSSPs
A penetration test, otherwise known as a pentest or ethical hacking, is an authorized simulated cyberattack on a computer system for the purpose of evaluating the security of the system. Cobalt, which offers Pentest-as-a-Service (PtaaS), states that organizations are still struggling to integrate security into their transformation initiatives while simultaneously balancing the needs of the business. Accordingly, the Cobalt-NTT DATA partnership will enable customers “to proactively build security into applications and mitigate risk without losing focus on customer acquisition and revenue growth.”
Cobalt Chief Marketing Officer Russ Cobb explained the impact for MSSPs:
“Cobalt recognizes that enterprises need to engage with MSSPs for trusted guidance and access to industry-leading security services. This is why we are thrilled to establish a strategic partnership with NTT DATA to proactively meet this need head on and help enterprises bolster their security systems amid all levels of growth and transformation.”
NTT DATA Gains Pentesting Capability
Cobalt offers a program that lets channel partners integrate its PtaaS platform into their offerings. The program provides partners with referral fees, discounts and go-to-market benefits. It also lets partners showcase their businesses’ PtaaS offerings via guest blog posts on Cobalt’s website. Custom co-branded documentation, joint marketing campaigns and other promotional opportunities are all part of the package.
The collaboration with NTTA DATA expands Cobalt’s partner ecosystem and underscores the understanding of PtaaS as a way to transform security programs and modernize traditional pentesting, the companies said.
NTT DATA will integrate Cobalt PtaaS into Nucleus, its platform of services. Sushila Nair, vice president of Security Services for NTT DATA, explained the imperative behind the partnership:
“NTT DATA selected Cobalt as a trusted pentest partner to help clients navigate the rapid and evolving technology landscape. An agile and secure application lifecycle is a key enabler of success. Adding PtaaS to our threat intelligence and analytics will enable enterprises to modernize their security practices with minimal effort, saving clients both time and resources.”
