Google Cloud and Palo Alto Networks Announce Expanded $10 Billion Security Services Partnership

ByFranklin Eke5 hours Ago1 Mins read19

Alphabet’s cloud computing division, Google Cloud, and cybersecurity firm Palo Alto Networks have announced an expanded partnership, reportedly the largest security services deal in Google Cloud’s history.

According to a source with direct knowledge, Palo Alto Networks has committed to spending nearly $10 billion on Google Cloud services over several years.

While executives from both companies declined to confirm the exact figures, the contract includes migrating Palo Alto’s existing offerings to Google Cloud’s platform and investing heavily in new services powered by artificial intelligence (AI). Palo Alto President BJ Jenkins highlighted the growing demand for security solutions driven by AI advancements.

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Matt Renner, Chief Revenue Officer for Google Cloud, noted that AI has fundamentally transformed many business functions, including software development, but cybersecurity is still in its early stages of evolution. Jenkins compared the current AI-driven security landscape to the early days of cloud computing when new and unforeseen security threats emerged.

The partnership comes amid rising cyberattacks leveraging generative AI tools, which both companies are countering with significant investments in AI-driven security software. Google’s pending $32 billion acquisition of security firm Wiz and Palo Alto’s recent launch of AI-powered offerings, along with its planned $3.35 billion acquisition of Chronosphere, underscore their commitment to innovation in this space.

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Renner emphasized that this deal highlights Google Cloud’s strong position as AI reshapes the competitive landscape against rivals Amazon and Microsoft. The two companies have maintained a strategic partnership since 2018, with Palo Alto CEO Nikesh Arora having previously served as Google’s Chief Business Officer until 2014.

This expanded collaboration marks a significant milestone in the integration of AI and cloud-based cybersecurity solutions, reflecting the increasing importance of robust security in the era of digital transformation.