Palo Alto Networks completed its acquisition of CyberArk Software Ltd. On February 11, 2026, establishing Identity Security as a core component of its platform strategy, according to a press release issued by Palo Alto Networks.
The acquisition adds CyberArk’s Identity Security Platform, designed to secure identities across an enterprise – encompassing human, machine, and agentic access. Palo Alto Networks, a global cybersecurity leader, stated the move is intended to address the increasing reliance on identities as a primary attack vector in modern enterprises.
According to the company, machine identities now exceed human identities by a ratio of more than 80 to 1. CyberArk shareholders approved the acquisition by Palo Alto Networks on November 13, 2025, with the transaction expected to close in early 2026, as reported by CyberArk investor relations.
The deal aims to address a growing trend of identity-centric breaches, with nearly 90% of organizations having already experienced such an incident. Palo Alto Networks highlighted that attackers are increasingly exploiting identity weaknesses, focusing on credential abuse and excessive privilege.
CyberArk, now operating as a Palo Alto Networks company, specializes in securing every identity with appropriate privilege controls. The combined entity intends to build a next-generation identity security platform for the AI era, according to CyberArk’s website.
Palo Alto Networks emphasized the importance of identity security as organizations expand their leverage of cloud technologies, automation, and artificial intelligence. The company’s Strata Network Security Platform, powered by AI, is intended to proactively monitor and prevent sophisticated threats.
The acquisition extends privilege security controls beyond traditional administrator roles to encompass all identities within an enterprise, according to the press release. Palo Alto Networks’ platforms are designed to secure networks, cloud workloads, and hybrid workforces, leveraging threat intelligence and security consulting services.
