Zscaler partners with IBM and Red Hat on AI threat defense

On October 5, 2026, Zscaler announced a collaboration with IBM and Red Hat to protect private corporate applications between vulnerability disclosure and patch deployment. The effort combines Zscaler Autonomous Application Shield, delivered via its Zero Trust Exchange platform, with Lightwell from IBM and Red Hat.

The companies aim to counter faster exploit cycles driven by artificial intelligence. Citing Mandiant's M-Trends 2026 report, Zscaler noted that the average time to exploit a software flaw has dropped below zero, meaning attacks increasingly take place before public fixes exist.

Under the setup, Zscaler App Connectors evaluate application risk points, and the platform deploys inline network protections in real time without waiting for a patch. Lightwell then delivers validated source-level software remediations for affected open source code so enterprises can fix the root flaw.

Joby Menon, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Zscaler, said the joint initiative provides inline protection alongside validated fixes to shield businesses during exposure windows. Gunnar Hellekson, Vice President and General Manager of Lightwell at Red Hat, stated that the gap between discovery and exploitation has shrunk from weeks to hours and minutes. Zscaler stated that Autonomous Application Shield is currently offered via an Early Access Program.