Palo Alto Networks acquired Console for $500M
Palo Alto Networks acquired AI-driven IT help desk startup Console for $500 million in cash and stock, according to sources.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Palo Alto Networks acquired Console for $500 million in cash and stock.
- Founded in 2024, Console automates routine IT help desk tasks using AI agents.
- The acquisition integrates Console into Palo Alto Networks' Cortex platform.
- This marks Palo Alto Networks' seventh acquisition of 2026 according to PitchBook.
Palo Alto Networks has acquired Console, a two-year-old startup utilizing AI agents to automate routine IT help desk tasks, for $500 million in cash and stock, according to two people familiar with the agreement. The companies officially announced the transaction on Tuesday without disclosing the financial terms of the deal.
Since its inception in 2024, Console has secured $29 million across two funding rounds, including a $6.2 million seed round led by Thrive Capital and a $23 million Series A co-led by DST Global and Thrive. Prior to the acquisition, PitchBook valued the startup at $157 million, providing swift returns for investors including SV Angel, Abstract Ventures, and Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora, who participated as an angel investor.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The cybersecurity giant plans to integrate Console into Cortex, its platform leveraging AI to automatically detect and neutralize threats. Console's agentic capabilities will enable security teams to investigate and resolve alerts utilizing natural language commands.
"the arms and legs to deliver autonomous security outcomes across the entire enterprise"
Nikesh Arora
Console was established by Andrei Serban following the acquisition of his previous code-security platform, Fuzzbuzz, by Rippling. The startup's system, utilized by customers such as Ramp, Flock Safety, and Scale AI, automates routine operations including password resets, application access permissions, and basic troubleshooting without direct human intervention.
This acquisition highlights a broader industry trend where major cybersecurity enterprises integrate autonomous AI agents to streamline operational workflows and reduce manual overhead for IT teams. By embedding intelligent automation directly into threat detection platforms, companies can accelerate incident response times across complex enterprise environments.
Following this transaction, Serval remains a prominent category leader to watch among startups automating IT service management, having previously reached a $1 billion valuation after a Series B round. Additionally, PitchBook notes that Console represents Palo Alto Networks' seventh corporate acquisition throughout 2026.
Source: TechCrunch
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