Palo Alto Networks has acquired Console, a two-year-old startup that uses AI agents to automate routine IT help desk tasks, in a deal valued at $500 million in cash and stock, according to people familiar with the matter. The companies confirmed the acquisition Tuesday but did not disclose financial terms.
Founded in 2024 by Andrei Serban, Console had raised $29 million across a seed round led by Thrive Capital and a Series A co-led by DST Global and Thrive, reaching a $157 million valuation before the sale. Early backers included SV Angel, Abstract Ventures, and Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora, who had invested personally.
Palo Alto Networks said it will integrate Console into its Cortex platform, which uses AI to detect and neutralize security threats. Console’s agentic capabilities will allow security teams to investigate and resolve alerts using natural language, extending Cortex’s ability to deliver autonomous security outcomes across organizations, according to Arora.
Console’s customers included Ramp, Flock Safety, and Scale AI, with its technology handling tasks like password resets, app access provisioning, and routine troubleshooting. The startup had competed primarily with Serval, a rival IT automation company valued at $1 billion, which industry observers say now stands as the leading player in the space following Console’s acquisition.
The deal marks Palo Alto Networks’ seventh acquisition in 2026, following earlier purchases of observability platform Chronosphere and cybersecurity startup Koi.
