Google Cloud and Palo Alto Networks have agreed to a multiyear security services partnership, with the deal said to be worth close to $10 billion over its lifetime, according to a source cited by Reuters. This collaboration marks Google Cloud’s largest security services agreement to date, reflecting the rising anxiety among enterprises about the rapid growth of AI in cloud environments.
The partnership aims to address the escalating security threats posed by the widespread adoption of AI technologies in cloud infrastructure. Palo Alto Networks’ State of Cloud Report from December 2025 revealed that 99% of respondents had encountered at least one attack on AI-related infrastructure in the past year. This trend is further compounded by organizations increasingly relying on cloud platforms to support new AI tools, creating additional complexities for security teams.
The expanded partnership between Google Cloud and Palo Alto Networks focuses on enhancing security measures for AI systems throughout their entire lifecycle, from development to production. Rather than treating security as a separate layer, the two companies are working towards integrating protection directly into the process of building, deploying, and accessing AI workloads in hybrid and multicloud environments.
In a bid to secure live AI workloads running on Google Cloud, Palo Alto Networks will utilize its Prisma AIRS platform to safeguard AI systems operating on services like Vertex AI and Agent Engine. This comprehensive approach encompasses aspects such as visibility into AI posture, runtime protection, agent behavior, and model testing, with the inclusion of developer tools like the Agent Development Kit to address security vulnerabilities early in the development phase.
Furthermore, the partnership emphasizes network security, with Palo Alto Networks’ VM-Series software firewalls being seamlessly integrated with Google Cloud to enable organizations to apply consistent security controls across public, private, and hybrid environments. The goal is to facilitate the smooth transition of workloads to the cloud while upholding stringent inspection and threat prevention standards.
Addressing the challenges of remote access and distributed work, the collaboration also extends to Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma SASE platform, which combines networking and security for users operating outside traditional office environments. By leveraging Google’s infrastructure, Prisma Access and Google Cloud Interconnect work in tandem to ensure that organizations can maintain consistent security policies as users access AI applications from various locations.
The partnership between Google Cloud and Palo Alto Networks not only focuses on enhancing security measures but also prioritizes operational simplicity. By pre-engineering integrations between their platforms, the two companies aim to streamline the process of connecting tools and managing policies, offering security teams a unified view of their environments. This approach enables security teams to operate more efficiently without adding unnecessary complexities.
BJ Jenkins, President of Palo Alto Networks, highlighted the increasing emphasis placed by boards on leveraging AI technologies without compromising security. He views the partnership as a means to strike a balance between rapid development and robust security measures, positioning protection as an integral part of the platform rather than an impediment. The ultimate objective is to embed security as an inherent component of building future technologies, with AI-powered defenses seamlessly integrated into Google Cloud.
Building on an existing relationship that encompasses over 75 joint integrations and approximately $2 billion in sales through the Google Cloud Marketplace, the expanded collaboration includes Palo Alto Networks migrating key internal workloads to Google Cloud as part of a separate multibillion-dollar agreement. Additionally, Palo Alto Networks is leveraging Google Cloud’s Vertex AI platform and Gemini large language models to support its internal copilots, strengthening the technical alignment between the two companies to ensure seamless scalability for customers running Palo Alto Networks on Google Cloud.
This strategic partnership comes at a pivotal moment in the cybersecurity landscape, with both Google and Palo Alto Networks making significant moves to bolster their AI-focused security capabilities. As Google announces its acquisition of Wiz for $32 billion and Palo Alto Networks expands its AI security portfolio through acquisitions like Chronosphere, both companies are responding to the evolving threats posed by AI-driven attacks and automated threats.
Matt Renner, Chief Sales Officer of Google Cloud, emphasized the growing demand from customers for integrated security and cloud platforms that work cohesively rather than in silos. He positioned the expanded partnership as a solution for organizations seeking to secure critical AI infrastructure while proactively embedding protection into the development process of new AI applications.
Analysts view this partnership as a strategic move by Google Cloud to strengthen its position in enterprise security and AI infrastructure, positioning itself as a formidable competitor to industry giants like Amazon and Microsoft. The collaboration also bears personal significance, as Palo Alto Networks’ Chief Executive, Nikesh Arora, previously served as Google’s Chief Business Officer, underscoring the deep-rooted history between the two companies.
In essence, the partnership between Google Cloud and Palo Alto Networks reflects a broader shift in how enterprises approach AI security risks. As AI continues to permeate various facets of daily operations, organizations are increasingly cognizant of the pivotal role that platform choices play in shaping the security and integrity of their systems for the foreseeable future.
