# Palo Alto Networks closes its 25 billion dollar CyberArk acquisition

Source: https://startwithidentity.com/blog/2026-02-11-palo-alto-networks-completes-cyberark-acquisition/
Last updated: 2026-08-01
License: content by Start with Identity. Cite the source URL.

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[Palo Alto Networks](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/zero-trust/palo-alto/) has completed its acquisition of [CyberArk](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/pam/cyberark/), closing on 11 February 2026 after clearances in the United States, European Union, United Kingdom, and Israel. At roughly 25 billion dollars it is the largest transaction the security industry has seen. CyberArk shareholders received 45 dollars in cash plus 2.2005 Palo Alto Networks shares for each ordinary share. Palo Alto is establishing identity security as a pillar of its platform strategy alongside network and cloud, integrating the CyberArk Identity Security Platform into Cortex and Strata to deliver identity-aware detection and response across human, machine, and agentic identities. CyberArk products remain available standalone while integration proceeds.

## Why it matters

CyberArk was the anchor vendor of [privileged access management](https://startwithidentity.com/guides/fundamentals/what-is-pam/) and the default answer in regulated enterprises for two decades. Its move inside a network security platform is the clearest signal that standalone identity categories are being absorbed, and it set the tone for a year in which [Delinea](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/pam/delinea/) took [StrongDM](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/pam/strongdm/), 1Password took [Apono](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/pam/apono/), and ServiceNow took [Veza](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/iga/veza/).

Two things to watch as a customer. CyberArk owns [Venafi](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/machine-identity/venafi/) and [Zilla Security](https://startwithidentity.com/vendors/iga/zilla-security/), so machine identity and governance came along with it, and those lines now compete for roadmap attention inside a much larger portfolio. And bundling shifts the balance at renewal: pricing that assumes you also buy Cortex is a different negotiation than the one you signed up for.

See the [full deal record](https://startwithidentity.com/acquisitions/) and our [PAM buyer guide](https://startwithidentity.com/guides/buyer-guides/how-to-choose-a-pam-solution/).

Source: [Palo Alto Networks](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/company/press/2026/palo-alto-networks-completes-acquisition-of-cyberark-to-secure-the-ai-era)