Aiming to grab the spotlight at the RSA conference, Palo Alto Networks on Tuesday strutted out new artificial intelligence "co-pilots" across its cybersecurity platform. Palo Alto stock rose on the news.
For security operations center (SOC) services, Palo Alto customers will use the co-pilots' conversational user interface rather than a computer dashboard.
Generative AI models process "prompts," such as internet search queries, that describe what a user wants to get. In cybersecurity, companies expect generative AI tools to help reduce the time to detect and respond to many forms of computer hacking. Also, they see generative AI automating more functions in security operations centers to help companies deal with a shortage of software engineers.
PANW Stock: Co-Pilot Battle
Microsoft and CrowdStrike Holdings also have rolled out cybersecurity co-pilots.
In a news release, Palo Alto Chief Executive Nikesh Arora said: "Platformization is the approach needed, and integrated solutions that can both protect and enable AI are integral to achieving results. Precision AI by Palo Alto Networks is the game changer that will create a new paradigm in security — perhaps for the first time — where the defender is ahead of the adversary."
On the stock market today, Palo Alto stock rose 1.7% to close at 305.52.
With roots in the "firewall" network security market, Palo Alto built a broad cloud-based security platform with acquisitions. Firewall appliances protect computer networks by blocking online intrusions and monitoring web-based apps.
Further, the company has spent over $4 billion buying startups over the past five years. Through acquisitions, Palo Alto Networks has expanded into endpoint security and other areas. Also, endpoint tools detect malware on laptops, mobile phones and other devices that access corporate networks.
In 2024, Palo Alto stock had gained 2% as of Monday's market close. Meanwhile, PANW stock holds a relative strength rating of 82 out of a best possible 99.
Follow Reinhardt Krause on Twitter @reinhardtk_tech for updates on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing.
