Dallas-based AT&T Inc. has launched AT&T Dynamic Defense, calling it the “first and only network with built-in security controls.”

In an announcement, the company said its new offering embeds cybersecurity directly in the AT&T network infrastructure, eliminating a need for additional hardware and reducing setup time from weeks to minutes. 

The service is available in Dallas and select cities in the U.S., with a nationwide rollout planned for later this year. 

Aiming to help solve a complex puzzle

As connectivity evolves, cybersecurity threat detection and mitigation have become a complex puzzle and costly expense for all businesses, AT&T said. The company saw a need for an affordable and easy-to-use “first line of defense” for businesses, particularly given the speed of changing technology.

By the end of 2024, the cost of cyberattacks on the global economy is predicted to exceed $10.5 trillion, according to a Forbes report. IT teams grapple with everything from basic security hygiene and credential theft to data breaches and malware.

AT&T, which has a network “backbone” that carries more than 680 petabytes of data every day, said it has “unprecedented visibility and industry-leading threat intelligence to protect businesses.”

Rick Welday, executive VP and GM, AT&T Business – Enterprise Markets [Photo: AT&T]

Rick Welday, head of AT&T Business, sees Dynamic Defense changing the game for business customers. “Cybersecurity is a core strength at AT&T, and we’re setting a new standard of connectivity, with security that starts at the network level,” he said in a statement.

Welday said the company’s innovative new product is designed as a “robust shield against cyber threats.” 

Can quickly detect threats and execute security controls

With its vast fiber and wireless networks, AT&T has an extensive infrastructure to leverage its new integrated cybersecurity solution. 

AT&T said the Dynamic Defense technology is embedded within the company’s network so it can quickly detect threats, filter traffic, and execute security controls without the additional cost of installation and equipment.

In a LinkedIn post, Welday called the new cybersecurity product “the future of network security,” noting its features allow AT&T to “intelligently protect customers end to end.”

From strategic development to rollout

Starting from initial discussions in 2021, through customer and market research, to the deployment of security nodes and the integration with AT&T’s threat platforms, AT&T took a strategic approach to Dynamic Defense.

According to a timeline shared with Dallas Innovates, AT&T’s network evolution from “monolithic” traditional hardware to software-driven solution was “kicked off in full earnest” in 2021.
Security, a perennial concern for businesses, was earmarked as a primary application for this new software-defined network (SDN). As the year progressed, AT&T initiated proof-of-concept planning, laying the foundation for its new offerings. 

By 2022, AT&T formed a specialized team to develop its integrated security services. They worked closely with customers and experts, including Bain Consultants, to tailor these services to real-world business needs. That year also saw its first deployment of new security solutions in Washington, D.C., and the start of customer trials, which included both AT&T and non-AT&T customers.

According to AT&T, the team also worked to expand the scope of security services, including Firewall-as-a-Service and Secure Web Gateway, and initiated UI/UX research along with a customer feedback loop.

Last year, AT&T aimed to integrate the new security services with its existing threat management platforms to enhance their effectiveness. The company also expanded its trials, bringing more customers on board and extending its evolving security product across multiple locations. The deployment of an additional nine security nodes also began, signaling a significant expansion of the security infrastructure.

Now AT&T’s vision, which started to take shape in 2021, is coming to fruition. According to the company, its cybersecurity product has completed testing and received validation from third parties, and the company continues its deployment on its business fiber and wireless networks.

Select market rollout and tiered options

AT&T said Dynamic Defense includes three options:

• Standard, priced at $20 a month, is now being offered at no cost for the life of a customer’s AT&T dedicated internet service.
• Advanced, $175 a month, includes the first two months at no charge when starting service before the end of 2024.
• Premium, $275 a month.

In addition to Dallas, the service is now offered in Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Georgia; Houston; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Chicago, New York City; Cleveland, Ohio; Los Angeles; and San Francisco.

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