KT Corp to supply AI email security service to all KAIST members after passing NIS review

KT Corp will supply its in-house AI email security service to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, building an email threat detection and advanced persistent threat response system for all university members to protect its research assets.

KT Corp said Wednesday it will provide its "AI Mail Security" service to KAIST, strengthening the email security framework for all university members — including students, researchers and faculty.

KT Corp's AI Mail Security is a cloud-based security service that uses AI technology to detect and block cyber threats delivered via email, such as ransomware and phishing messages. The service applies a three-stage filtering system — spam blocking, AI-based threat detection and APT precision analysis — to counter sophisticated threats including phishing URLs and malicious files disguised as legitimate mail. KT Corp also obtained cloud service security certification for the solution in June.

Unlike conventional on-premise APT security solutions, the service is delivered as a cloud-based software-as-a-service platform that integrates spam, AI and APT security functions in a single offering. KT Corp said the approach reduces the burden of building and operating large-scale security infrastructure, and allows organizations of varying sizes to run their security systems more efficiently by scaling the service to their needs.

KT Corp said the deployment is significant because KAIST selected its proprietary AI security solution following technical verification. The company added that clearing a security review by the National Intelligence Service has laid the groundwork to apply cloud-based AI email security across an entire university.

KT Corp plans to use the KAIST deployment as a springboard to expand its AI email security business to other domestic universities and government-funded research institutes. The company said it will support institutions that face challenges in maintaining dedicated security personnel and infrastructure, enabling them to use AI-based threat detection and APT analysis capabilities.

Kwon Young-jin, head of academic information services at KAIST, said it is important that students, researchers and faculty who produce research outcomes can all focus on their work in a safe environment. "Through this enhancement of our email security framework, we will continue to advance our information security systems so that every member of our community receives a higher level of protection," Kwon said.

Baek Seung-taek, head of KT Corp's enterprise division western corporate customer unit, said the deployment carries great significance because KAIST chose KT Corp's proprietary AI security service after rigorous technical verification and is applying it to every university member. "We will use KT Corp's AI security technology to keep KAIST's members and its research and education assets safe, and continue to expand our AI security services to universities and research institutions," Baek said.