Palo Alto Networks Acquires AI Startup Console for $500M to Boost Autonomous Security Platform
aiinsider ·
Palo Alto Networks has acquired Console, a two-year-old startup that automates IT help desk tasks with AI agents, in a deal reported to be worth $500 million in cash and stock, though the companies did not disclose financial terms. Founded in 2024 by Andrei Serban, Console had raised $29 million from investors including Thrive Capital and DST Global, reaching a $157 million valuation before the sale. Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora, who had personally invested in Console, said the startup will be integrated into the Cortex platform to let security teams investigate and resolve alerts using natural language. Console's customers included Ramp, Flock Safety, and Scale AI, and its technology handled tasks such as password resets and access provisioning. The startup competed primarily with Serval, an IT automation company valued at $1 billion, which is now considered the leading player in the space after the acquisition. This deal is Palo Alto Networks' seventh acquisition in 2026, following its purchases of Chronosphere and cybersecurity startup Koi.
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