Lumen Empowers Businesses with the Threat Intelligence Safeguarding Its Global Network

Rhea-AI Summary

Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) has launched Lumen Defender Plus, a network security solution powered by Black Lotus Labs that automatically blocks cyber threats at the network edge. The solution leverages the same threat intelligence used to protect Lumen's global infrastructure, tracking over 2.3 million threats daily.

During a pilot program, IT consulting firm Apex DataCom reported significant results, including a 70-80% reduction in security alerts and successful blocking of nation-state brute force attacks. The system blocked hundreds of thousands of threats over a seven-day period on their 10-gigabit circuits.

Integrated with Lumen Internet On-Demand service, the solution features a customizable web portal offering real-time monitoring, custom blocking capabilities, detailed reporting, and instant alerts. Lumen plans to expand the service to Dedicated Internet Access environments in the future.

Positive

• Launch of new cybersecurity product that leverages existing infrastructure
• Successful pilot program with documented 70-80% reduction in security alerts
• Integration with existing Internet On-Demand service requiring no additional equipment
• Planned expansion to Dedicated Internet Access environments

Negative

• Operating in highly competitive cybersecurity market
• Success dependent on continued effectiveness against evolving cyber threats

Insights

Cybersecurity Expert

Lumen's new edge-based security offering leverages proprietary threat intelligence to provide automated network protection, reducing alert fatigue and blocking threats proactively.

Lumen's Defender Plus represents a significant capability enhancement in enterprise network security, bringing Black Lotus Labs' vast threat intelligence capabilities—which monitor over 2.3 million threats daily—directly to business customers. What makes this offering distinctive is its network edge architecture, which fundamentally differs from traditional endpoint or firewall solutions by intercepting threats before they ever reach the corporate environment.

The pilot implementation at Apex DataCom demonstrates compelling operational benefits: a 70-80% reduction in security alerts and successful mitigation of nation-state brute force attacks. Over just seven days, the solution blocked hundreds of thousands of threats on their 10-gigabit circuits, validating its effectiveness at enterprise scale.

From a technical perspective, the zero-touch deployment model—requiring no additional equipment or manual configuration—addresses a critical pain point for resource-constrained security teams. The automatic integration with Lumen Internet On-Demand service eliminates implementation barriers that typically slow security adoption.

The portal capabilities delivering real-time monitoring, custom blocking rules based on severity thresholds, and automated alerting represent a comprehensive approach to threat management. By neutralizing threats before they reach internal systems, Lumen effectively reduces the security workload for internal teams while potentially improving overall protection posture.

Business Strategy Analyst

Lumen strategically expands its service portfolio by commercializing its internal security capabilities, addressing enterprise demand amid rising cyber threats.

Lumen's introduction of Defender Plus represents a calculated move to leverage existing investments in Black Lotus Labs' intelligence capabilities and network infrastructure to create new revenue opportunities. This product launch aligns with escalating market demand—the article notes 86% of enterprises reported year-over-year increases in cyber threats in 2024.

The strategic approach here is particularly noteworthy: rather than building entirely new security capabilities, Lumen is essentially commercializing the same protection systems it already uses across its global network. This efficient resource utilization potentially delivers new revenue streams without proportional cost increases.

Apex DataCom's pilot results provide early validation through measurable operational improvements, including dramatic reductions in security alerts and successful prevention of sophisticated attacks. These outcomes suggest tangible business value that could drive adoption.

The integration with Lumen's Internet On-Demand service creates natural expansion opportunities within the existing customer base. The automated deployment model—requiring no manual configuration or additional equipment—minimizes adoption barriers while reducing implementation costs.

The announced plans to extend protection to Dedicated Internet Access environments indicate a phased growth strategy to progressively increase market penetration across Lumen's connectivity products. While this product shows innovation in Lumen's service portfolio, the article provides insufficient evidence to determine whether it will materially impact Lumen's overall financial performance.

Lumen Defender Plus, powered by Black Lotus Labs intelligence, stops threats before they reach business networks – delivering measurable results for companies like Apex DataCom

DENVER, April 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The need for smarter, faster, and more automated defenses has never been greater. In 2024, 86% of enterprises reported a year-over-year increase in cyber threats. Lumen Technologies (NYSE: LUMN) today announced it is putting the strength of its global threat intelligence that safeguards its own infrastructure into the hands of enterprise businesses. Lumen Defender^SM Plus, built entirely on Lumen's network and powered by the advanced threat intelligence capabilities of Black Lotus Labs, is designed to automatically block internet-based cyber threats at the network edge – including bots, malware, spam, phishing, Command and Control (C2) and proxy activity before they ever reach a business's environment.

"With Lumen Defender Plus, we're giving businesses something they've never had before—direct access to the same real-time intelligence and automated protection we use to secure Lumen's network, one of the world's largest and most connected," said Martin Nystrom, Lumen vice president of Black Lotus Labs and product security. "We're combining Black Lotus Lab's visibility into the global threat landscape with our AI engine to stop real-world threats before they ever reach a business. This proactive security solution adds a layer of visibility, control, and protection most businesses don't have today."

Apex DataCom, an IT consulting firm specializing in cloud applications and business advisory services, recently piloted Lumen Defender Plus and reported strong results—a 70-80% decrease in security alerts, plus the immediate blocking of hundreds of brute force attacks conducted by a nation state. Analytics from Lumen Defender Plus revealed that over a seven-day period, hundreds of thousands of threats - including botnets, malware, and ransomware - were blocked on Apex DataCom's 10-gigabit circuits. By automatically mitigating these threats at the network edge, Lumen Defender Plus is freeing up Apex DataCom's internal IT team to focus on more strategic initiatives.

Lumen Defender Plus is integrated with Lumen® Internet On-Demand (IoD) service and is automatically enabled without manual configurations or extra equipment. Once activated, it immediately begins blocking malicious IP addresses using a real-time stream of threat intelligence from Lumen's Black Lotus Labs, which tracks over 2.3 million threats per day and has a proven history of uncovering and disrupting multi-year nation-state campaigns. Unlike traditional firewalls or endpoint-based solutions, Lumen Defender Plus operates at the network edge, minimizing the burden on security teams and improving operational efficiency.

Businesses can quickly see threats and act on those using a customizable web portal that includes:

• Real-time monitoring of threat types, origins, and risk levels
• Custom blocking to deny addresses based on severity level
• Detailed reports for viewing and sharing active and blocked threats
• Instant alerts via email or texts

Lumen plans to extend Lumen Defender Plus to Dedicated Internet Access (DIA) environments in the future, expanding protection to even more business-critical connections.

Read IDC's Lumen Defender Plus report here. For more information, go to Defender: Network Threat Detection & Protection Service | Lumen.

About Lumen Technologies  
Lumen is unleashing the world's digital potential. We ignite business growth by connecting people, data, and applications – quickly, securely, and effortlessly. As the trusted network for AI, Lumen uses the scale of our network to help companies realize AI's full potential. From metro connectivity to long-haul data transport to our edge cloud, security, managed service, and digital platform capabilities, we meet our customers' needs today and as they build for tomorrow. For news and insights visit news.lumen.com, LinkedIn: /lumentechnologies, X: @lumentechco, Facebook: /lumentechnologies, Instagram: @lumentechnologies, and YouTube: /lumentechnologies.  

 

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SOURCE Lumen Technologies

FAQ

What results did Apex DataCom achieve with Lumen Defender Plus (LUMN)?

Apex DataCom reported a 70-80% decrease in security alerts and blocked hundreds of nation-state brute force attacks, with hundreds of thousands of threats blocked over a seven-day period on their 10-gigabit circuits.

How many threats does Lumen's Black Lotus Labs track daily for LUMN's Defender Plus?

Black Lotus Labs tracks over 2.3 million threats per day and has a history of uncovering multi-year nation-state campaigns.

What features does Lumen Defender Plus (LUMN) offer in its web portal?

The web portal offers real-time threat monitoring, custom blocking based on severity, detailed threat reports, and instant alerts via email or texts.

What types of cyber threats does Lumen Defender Plus (LUMN) block?

It blocks bots, malware, spam, phishing, Command and Control (C2), and proxy activity at the network edge before reaching business environments.