Palo Alto Networks grew from next-generation firewalls into the largest pure cybersecurity company, selling platforms that span network security, cloud protection and AI-driven security operations. Its strategy, called platformization, persuades enterprises to consolidate dozens of point products onto its three platforms, trading short-term revenue for locked-in breadth. Threats never stop evolving, which makes security budgets among the most resilient in technology. The company was founded in 2005 by a firewall pioneer from Check Point.