Frenos has partnered with N2K Networks to deliver what they call the first AI-native operational technology (OT) security posture management (SPM) platform. By combining Frenos’
digital twin threat modeling with
N2K’s extensive certification data, the collaboration is designed to move OT security from reactive defense toward proactive, expertise-driven resilience - while creating new opportunities for managed security service providers (MSSPs).
Embedding Professional Knowledge Into AI
At the center of the integration is Frenos’ AI agent,
SAIRA, now trained on N2K’s professional certification knowledge base.
Harry Thomas, CTO of Frenos, told MSSP Alert that this shift is about applying professional rigor at machine speed.
"By combining industry-leading threat emulation with N2K’s comprehensive security knowledge catalog, our integrated solution delivers capabilities that help defenders proactively disrupt attacker behavior,” he said. Frenos’ digital twin environments allow
SAIRA to simulate both offensive and defensive scenarios with high fidelity, giving under-resourced asset owners access to expertise that mirrors that of a dedicated ICS security architect.
Scaling Expertise Across MSSP Environments
For MSSPs, scaling OT expertise across diverse customer environments has always been a challenge. According to Thomas, training SAIRA against certification standards provides a path to deliver expert-level security consistently. "MSSPs struggling to scale expertise across customer environments can leverage SAIRA trained on security certification knowledge from N2K to deliver consistent OT security at scale,” he noted.
By standardizing evaluations against recognized frameworks, providers can move away from resource-constrained service models and toward scalable, expert-quality delivery that applies equally across industries like energy, manufacturing, and utilities.
Beyond Point Solutions: A Managed Services Stack Approach
With most MSSPs already managing converged IT and OT assets, the Frenos-N2K partnership is built to integrate into existing managed services stacks. Thomas explained that embedding certification-aligned knowledge directly into the Frenos platform allows MSSPs to bridge IT and OT security without fragmenting tools or processes.
"This partnership positions Frenos to become an integral part of the managed services stack rather than just another point solution,” he said. By continuously modeling threats across both domains, the platform aligns with how MSSPs already operate - fitting into workflows, reporting mechanisms, and incident response playbooks.
Thomas added that the platform goes beyond detection by offering tactical guidance that MSSPs can apply across multiple client environments. This, he said, helps providers overcome staffing shortages by augmenting their teams with specialized OT expertise that can scale, effectively turning Frenos into a “force multiplier” inside their core service delivery model.
The collaboration will continue to expand beyond exam data into course materials, case studies, and professional development content, further strengthening SAIRA’s ability to reason through complex OT security challenges with the depth of seasoned professionals. By benchmarking AI performance against certification standards, Frenos is positioning itself not just as a tool provider, but as a partner that helps MSSPs bring certified expertise to scale in some of the most demanding industrial environments.
