Palo Alto Networks stock rises on expanded Google Cloud partnership

Investing.com -- Palo Alto Networks shares rose on Friday after the cybersecurity firm announced an expanded strategic partnership with Google Cloud aimed at securing cloud and artificial intelligence deployments.

The companies said the agreement will combine Google Cloud’s AI and infrastructure capabilities with Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma AIRS platform to help customers securely develop and deploy AI applications across hybrid multicloud environments. 

PANW explained that the collaboration is designed to address growing security risks as enterprises scale AI workloads.

Palo Alto Networks said its recently released State of Cloud Report found that customers are rapidly expanding cloud infrastructure to support AI, while “99% of respondents experienced at least one attack on their AI infrastructure over the last year.”

The expanded partnership seeks to embed security across infrastructure, applications and endpoints to support AI adoption while protecting data and intellectual property.

Under the agreement, customers will be able to secure live AI workloads on Google Cloud, including services such as Vertex AI and Agent Engine, using Prisma AIRS. 

The partnership is also said to include deeper integration of Palo Alto Networks’ software firewalls and secure access service edge platform with Google Cloud, as well as a more unified security experience designed to reduce operational complexity.

BJ Jenkins, president of Palo Alto Networks, commented: “Every board is asking how to harness AI’s power without exposing the business to new threats. This partnership answers that question.”

Matt Renner, president and chief revenue officer of Google Cloud, said enterprises are increasingly turning to both companies “to secure their applications and data — together and in a seamless way.”