Qualcom wins Microsoft security badge amid AI concerns

Qualcom has received Microsoft's Solutions Partner for Security designation, placing the Irish IT and cybersecurity provider among a small group of Microsoft partners in Ireland with that status.

The designation covers Qualcom's work across Microsoft security products, including Microsoft 365 and Azure security services. Microsoft awards the status to partners that meet criteria tied to technical expertise, certifications and customer deployments.

For Qualcom, the recognition marks a further step in its effort to strengthen its position in managed IT and cybersecurity services across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the Channel Islands. It has invested in Microsoft security technologies, staff training and deployment experience to reach the threshold.

The award also comes as corporate customers face growing pressure to secure workplace AI tools and broader cloud environments. Businesses adopting products such as Microsoft Copilot are under increasing scrutiny over how they manage access controls, permissions and governance for sensitive data.

Security focus

The Microsoft designation gives customers an external benchmark when choosing providers to advise on security architecture, threat protection and security operations. It also signals experience in securing identities, devices, applications, data and cloud systems within Microsoft environments.

That external validation has become more significant as organisations seek to introduce AI systems without exposing internal information or weakening existing controls. Security specialists argue that AI roll-outs often depend less on the tools themselves than on whether companies already have sound identity management, data classification and governance in place.

Ken Ryan outlined the company's view of that shift in customer demand.

"Businesses are eager to embrace AI, but they still need the right foundations to do so with confidence. Our sustained investment has enabled us to meet that demand by expanding our Microsoft Security capabilities and helping organisations unlock the benefits of technologies such as Microsoft Copilot while ensuring their data remains secure.

Achieving this designation places us among a select group of Microsoft partners in Ireland. It reflects the expertise of our team and reinforces our long-term commitment to help customers reduce business risk and maximise the value of their Microsoft investment," said Ken Ryan, Managing Director, Qualcom.

Microsoft's partner designations have become an important marker for companies selling implementation, support and security services around the software group's cloud and productivity products. For customers, those badges can serve as a filter in a crowded market of providers offering overlapping managed services.

Qualcom is a privately owned business that serves organisations across multiple sectors. It has operated for more than 30 years and positions itself as a strategic technology partner for businesses seeking IT support and cybersecurity advice.

AI controls

Qualcom's leadership linked the Microsoft designation directly to customer concerns about introducing AI systems safely. That reflects a broader market trend, with security teams being asked to review not only new AI applications but also how existing data estates are structured and protected.

In practice, that means reviewing who has access to files, how information is labelled, what permissions are inherited across systems and whether cloud workloads are monitored effectively. Those issues have moved higher up the agenda as AI assistants can surface content quickly from across an organisation's Microsoft estate.

David Kinsella said those controls need to be in place before businesses expand their AI deployments.

"As businesses increasingly adopt technologies such as Microsoft Copilot, security can no longer be treated as an afterthought. Organisations need the right controls in place before deploying AI to ensure sensitive information remains protected.

By continuing to invest in our technical capabilities, we're ensuring customers have access to the highest levels of Microsoft security expertise. This enables them to continue to innovate with confidence while maintaining a secure Microsoft environment," said David Kinsella.