NTT DATA and Palo Alto Networks to accelerate secure AI transformation

NTT DATA and Palo Alto Networks announced a multi-year strategic alliance designed to help organisations securely adopt AI, modernise cybersecurity, simplify complex technology environments and build cyber resilience for the AI era.

As Palo Alto Networks first strategic alliance of this kind with a global systems integrator, the agreement, which targets $1 billion in joint business by the end of three years (2029), combines Palo Alto Networks AI-powered cybersecurity platforms with NTT DATA’s consulting, engineering and managed services.

Leveraging joint engineering, co-innovation and coordinated global delivery, the alliance will help clients assess cyber risk, deploy AI securely and continuously optimise security. Through these joint solutions, clients will gain a unified approach that seamlessly spans cybersecurity strategy, implementation and managed services.

Building on the companies’ Frontier AI collaboration, the alliance brings together Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 threat intelligence with NTT DATA’s global cybersecurity expertise, AI governance and managed services. Backed by joint investments, more than 2,000 certified experts as well as dedicated Forward Deployed Engineers, the alliance will deliver a seamless approach to streamline deployments and speed client outcomes. Through direct engineering collaboration, NTT DATA will gain early access to new platform features, further accelerating the delivery of AI security services to clients.

Initial solutions will address the most pressing cybersecurity challenges facing clients in highly regulated and critical industries, including financial services, healthcare, manufacturing and the public sector, across six strategic transformation areas:

• Autonomous Security Operations Centre (SOC) – Modernise security operations with Agentic AI and managed services that help organisations detect, investigate and respond faster to increasingly sophisticated, machine-speed cyber threats while reducing operational complexity.
• AI governance – Embed governance, security and risk management throughout the AI lifecycle, helping organisations manage emerging AI risks and confidently scale AI innovation with greater accountability, transparency and control.
• Identity security – Protect human, machine and AI agent identities, including workloads and devices, through an Identity Security Framework designed to discover, manage, secure and govern identities across the enterprise.
• Zero Trust & SASE – Helps secure users, applications and data across an increasingly complex attack surface through a unified Zero trust and secure edge architecture, leveraging AI-driven threat detection and prevention.
• Resilient cloud – Enables organisations to improve visibility, compliance and autonomous risk reduction across multi-cloud environments with AI-enabled security posture management and stronger governance.
• Firewall modernisation – Modernise firewall environments to reduce complexity, improve visibility and strengthen enterprise security.

“AI is reshaping both business and cybersecurity, making deep ecosystem collaboration more important than ever,” said Nikesh Arora, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Palo Alto Networks. “Expanding our alliance with NTT DATA allows us to operationalise platformisation at true global scale, helping enterprises eliminate legacy complexity and move fast without sacrificing safety.”

“AI is redefining every aspect of the enterprise, but it is also transforming the threat landscape at unprecedented speed. Organisations need a new approach to cyber resilience that combines AI-driven security, deep industry expertise and global scale,” said Abhijit Dubey, Chief Executive Officer and Chief AI Officer, NTT DATA. “Together with Palo Alto Networks, we’re bringing AI-powered cybersecurity innovation together with NTT DATA’s consulting, engineering and managed services capabilities to help clients securely accelerate AI adoption and stay ahead of evolving threats.”

NTT DATA brings world-class cybersecurity expertise to the collaboration, backed by over 7,500 cybersecurity professionals, 70+ delivery centres and 20+ Cyber Defence Centres. Paired with Palo Alto Networks AI-powered platforms and Unit 42 threat intelligence, the alliance delivers the technology, expertise and global reach enterprise organisations need to securely deploy AI across complex environments.