IBM and Palo Alto Networks collaborate to offer AI security solutions. Cybersecurity challenges are on the rise as the enterprise technology landscape continues to evolve with digital transformation and rapid adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). Due to the increase in cyber threats companies are giving importance to security platforms powered by AI.

Palo Alto Networks and IBM are using artificial intelligence to work together to accelerate and simplify security operations, scale up threat prevention, and reduce incident remediation time for our customers. These industry dynamics, combined with today’s partnership announcement, highlight the opportunities we see for both companies.

"The security industry is at an inflection point where AI will transform businesses and deliver outcomes not seen before. It's a moment to accelerate growth and innovation. Together with IBM, we will capitalize on this trend, combining our leading unleash AI security solutions with IBM's pioneering Watsonx AI platform and premier services to drive the future of security platformization with complete, AI-powered, secure-by-design offerings." stated by Chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks, Nikesh Arora.

Palo Alto Networks and IBM have agreed to purchase IBM’s QRadar SaaS assets (including QRadar’s intellectual property rights) under the expanded partnership, subject to the usual closing terms and conditions. Upon closing, PwC and IBM will work together to migrate QRadar customers to PwC’s next-generation SOC (Next-Generation Security Operations) platform, Cortex®, XSIAM®. Cortex’s SOC provides advanced AI-driven threat protection provided by 3,000 unique detectors. QRadar’s on-prem and SaaS clients that have decided to migrate to cortex XSIAM will work closely with the companies, as well as their business partners, to facilitate a smooth migration. IBM and Palo Alto Networks offer free migration support to qualified customers.

Palo Alto Networks will give incremental payments to IBM for QRadar on-prem clients that select to be a part of the Cortex XSIAM platform.

Palo Alto will integrate IBM’s Watsonx LLMs into its AI-powered tools. Over 1,000 security consultants will be trained to use the cybersecurity solution.

The alliance between the two companies Palo Alto Networks and IBM comes at a time when IBM is grappling with questions surrounding its sales performance, which missed analysts’ projections in its recent quarter. Despite this, shares have risen 36% in the past twelve months. The company also faces more volatile trends in its business of consultancy.

As IBM’s cybersecurity partner, leading cybersecurity solutions from Palo Alto Networks and IBM will be available in IBM’s Consulting Advantage AI Services platform, including asset building and repeatable methodologies to support scalability. IBM Consulting will be the preferred managed security services provider (MSSP) to current and future customers of Palo Alto Networks. A joint Security Operations Center (SOC) will include a managed SOC. In addition, the companies will establish a common Cyber Range that will provide customers with immersive experiences to better understand the value of the company’s security solutions.