Palo Alto Networks acquires Console to add smart artificial intelligence features that automatically fix computer security problems.
Global cybersecurity giant Palo Alto Networks has officially acquired Console, an artificial intelligence startup that builds smart software programs capable of performing complex computer tasks automatically.
Under the strategic technology deal, Console’s smart artificial intelligence tools will be integrated directly into Palo Alto Networks’ flagship Cortex security platform.
This integration allows company security teams to talk to their computer systems in plain everyday language, asking questions and issuing plain
English commands to investigate security warnings, prioritize urgent risks, and fix computer flaws automatically. Instead of spending long hours typing complex software code or sorting through thousands of false alarms, security workers can rely on smart software programs to act like digital assistants that fix cyber problems on their own.
The major business acquisition was officially announced in public corporate statements on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, Palo Alto Networks serves over 70,000 corporate customers globally, protecting major financial firms, healthcare networks, and government offices.
The buyout builds upon the firm’s ongoing push to buy specialized artificial intelligence startups, allowing the cybersecurity leader to expand its technical capabilities across enterprise networks.
The primary reason Palo Alto Networks purchased Console is that modern cyberattacks move far too fast for human security staff to handle manually.
Large companies receive thousands of computer warnings every single day, creating massive fatigue for IT teams who must check each alert one by one.
By acquiring Console’s specialized software, Palo Alto Networks gives its systems smart digital tools that connect directly to identity databases, cloud apps, and corporate servers.
When a potential virus or hacker intrusion is spotted, the smart software can immediately understand the threat, gather necessary details, block the bad actor, and document what happened without waiting for a human worker to click a button.
Explaining why giving computer systems the ability to act on their own transforms enterprise security defenses, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Palo Alto Networks Nikesh Arora said, “By bringing Console into Palo Alto Networks, our customers can have a direct conversation with data and build agentic workflows in natural language that help alert and remediate issues automatically”.
Detailing how adding smart artificial intelligence tools gives security platforms physical power to take real-world actions, Nikesh Arora added, “This is the shift to software as an agent, giving our platform the arms and legs to deliver autonomous security outcomes across the entire enterprise”.
Highlighting why the company built smart software tools around simple everyday human goals, Console Chief Executive Officer and co founder Andrei Serban stated, “We built Console around a simple idea: people should be able to express an operational goal, and intelligent software should handle the complexity required to achieve it”.
Confirming that automation slashes heavy workloads and protects large organizations, Andrei Serban noted, “Our customers have already proven that agents can dramatically slash overhead and transform their business”.
By acquiring Console, Palo Alto Networks is ushering in a new era of automated digital defense. Using smart software that talks in simple everyday language ensures that company networks stay locked, security teams stay ahead of bad actors, and corporate files remain fully protected around the clock.
About the Author
Jennifer Sakmufuwo Baba is a tech analyst, senior staff, and writer covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity , and emerging technologies at TechRegard. Based in Nigeria, she's passionate about translating complex tech developments into compelling, accessible stories for diverse audiences. Her work focuses on how technology shapes innovation across Africa and globally.
