Open Systems adds three operating models to one security platform

Open Systems said Oct. 1, 2026, it is launching a new commercial model that lets enterprises run the same security and networking platform themselves, with AI assistance or as a fully managed service. The company is framing the move as the next phase of the SASE market, where AI operations and accountability matter more than feature counts.

Why it matters: - Open Systems is trying to redefine how enterprises buy and operate security platforms as SASE matures. - The new model gives customers a way to shift between self-managed, AI-augmented and fully managed operations without changing the underlying stack. - The approach targets a growing pain point: rising operational complexity in security and networking.

What happened: - Open Systems launched a new commercial model on Oct. 1, 2026, centered on one platform with three operating models. - Enterprises can choose Self-serve Platform, AIOps or Mission Control. - The company said the platform, the operating model and the level of human involvement can change without a provider switch or technology migration. - Open Systems said the new portfolio and commercial model are available immediately. - The company will showcase the model and its AI capabilities at it-sa Expo&Congress in Nuremberg from Oct. 27–29, 2026.

The details: - Self-serve Platform lets enterprises run the Open Systems platform themselves. - That model includes access to networking and security capabilities, APIs, policy management, analytics and automation. - AIOps adds AI support while the customer stays in control. - Open Systems’ AI operator Lucy provides a single interface into specialized AI capabilities. - Lucy can diagnose issues, gather context, propose actions and execute approved workflows within guardrails. - Mission Control combines the same platform and AI capabilities with 24/7 operations and Level-3 engineering expertise. - Open Systems said the platform stays the same across all three models. - The company said customers can change operational responsibility over time without moving to another security stack. - Open Systems said the model is built on AI Matrix, introduced in September 2026, and 35 years of operational experience. - The company’s platform unifies SSE capabilities including ZTNA, SWG, CASB and FWaaS with SD-WAN, end-to-end connectivity, unified policy management and advanced analytics. - Open Systems said it is founded in Switzerland, became part of Swiss Post in 2024, generates more than USD 100 million in annual revenue and supports customers in more than 180 countries. - The company also posted a LinkedIn link to Open Systems on LinkedIn.

Between the lines: - Open Systems is betting that the next competitive edge in security will come from who performs the work, not just which features are bundled into the platform. - The three-model structure also gives the company a way to match customers at different maturity levels without forcing a new product purchase. - The emphasis on guardrails and traceability suggests Open Systems is trying to keep AI useful without making it fully autonomous. - Dennis Monner said customers need to decide who does the work: their team, AI or Open Systems. - Markus Ehrenmann said autonomy has to be earned and that guardrails come before autonomy.

What's next: - Open Systems is expected to use the Nuremberg event to explain how the operating models work in practice and to highlight its latest AI features. - Enterprises will now be able to adopt the platform and later shift more work to AI or Open Systems as operational needs change. - The company is positioning the model as a long-term answer to the operational burden that comes with modern SASE deployments.

The bottom line: - Open Systems is moving the conversation from SASE features to AI-enabled operations, with one platform and three ways to run it.