Palo Alto Networks Acquires AI IT Help Desk Startup Console for $500M

Palo Alto Networks has agreed to acquire Console, a two-year-old startup focused on automating routine IT help desk tasks, for $500 million in cash and stock. The deal, which was announced on Tuesday, marks the cybersecurity firm's seventh acquisition in 2026 and signals a strategic pivot toward embedding autonomous agents directly into its enterprise security stack.

Console, founded in 2024 by Andrei Serban, had previously raised $29 million in venture capital, including a $23 million Series A co-led by DST Global and Thrive Capital. Before the acquisition, the company was valued at $157 million, offering a significant return for early investors such as SV Angel, Abstract Ventures, and Palo Alto Networks CEO Nikesh Arora, who participated as an angel investor.

The company’s core product allows security and IT teams to resolve alerts and perform routine troubleshooting—such as password resets and access grants for applications like Figma and Miro—using natural language prompts. By integrating Console into Cortex, Palo Alto Networks aims to give its security platform the ability to act autonomously across the enterprise, moving beyond detection to active resolution.

This acquisition positions Palo Alto Networks to compete more aggressively in the IT service management (ITSM) space, a market where startups like Serval have recently seen valuations soar. While Serval expanded into HR and legal support, Console’s focus remains tightly aligned with security operations, a vertical where Palo Alto Networks holds significant market share.