Okta, Palo Alto networks join forces to tackle AI-powered identity threats

• Photo courtesy of Palo Alto Networks

By TechWatch Ph Staff

Cybersecurity leaders Okta and Palo Alto Networks are teaming up to take on one of the most pressing challenges in digital security today: identity-based attacks.

With hackers using AI to launch increasingly sophisticated threats, the two companies are rolling out new integrations designed to give organizations a smarter, faster, and more unified way to defend themselves.

The partnership brings together Okta’s identity management and AI-powered threat detection with Palo Alto Networks’ secure access and security operations platforms.

Together, they aim to help organizations of all sizes protect sensitive data, automate responses to suspicious activity, and improve visibility across devices and users.

One key feature is a secure browser-based access method: employees can now only access certain apps through Palo Alto’s Prisma Access Browser, creating a strong layer of protection—especially on unmanaged or personal devices.

At the same time, the integration of Okta’s threat detection with Palo Alto’s Cortex XSIAM and Cortex XDR means that when risky behavior is detected, action can be taken automatically—such as logging out a user, revoking access, or isolating a device.

“AI is supercharging attacks on user credentials, requiring a ‘fight AI with AI’ approach that brings identity directly into an organization’s security infrastructure for a real-time and unified response,” said Stephen Lee, VP of Technology Partnerships at Okta.”With Palo Alto Networks, Okta is proud to enhance the interoperability of our AI-powered platforms to prevent risks of siloed tools, providing nearly 2000 joint customers with a comprehensive view of their security posture, context-aware access controls, and secure authentication to stay ahead of today’s threats.”

Pamela Cyr, VP of Technical Partnerships at Palo Alto Networks, agrees. “Identity plays a critical role in cybersecurity”.

“Our deep integrations with Okta ensure that our solutions are engineered to work together, making it easier for our customers to achieve higher levels of security and user experience. These new integrations, from securing application access with Prisma Access Browser to providing unified protection against identity threats through our Cortex platform, empower organizations with comprehensive, AI-driven defense,” cyr added.

These two new integrations offer a clear, streamlined path for joint customers to confidently secure their operations while cutting down on costs and complexity.

By combining Okta Workforce Identity with Palo Alto Networks’ Prisma Access Browser, organizations can now give employees secure access to corporate web apps and data from any device—managed or unmanaged—without sacrificing security.

The result is a fast, seamless browsing experience for users, along with greater visibility and control for security teams over SaaS and web activity.

Meanwhile, the integration with Cortex XSIAM and Cortex XDR brings unified identity threat detection and automated response capabilities, enabling real-time actions like requiring additional authentication for risky activity, revoking user access, ending active sessions, or even quarantining compromised devices.

“CISOs are clear: to move at pace with the threat landscape, security teams need integrated platforms, not just more solutions. With the rapid adoption of cloud services, SaaS applications, remote work, and now the advent of AI, organizations are being challenged by added complexity and gaps in security tools,” said Maxine Holt, Vice President, Enterprise & Channel Research at Omdia.

“By unifying their offerings, Okta and Palo Alto Networks are helping customers streamline operations, reduce complexity, and improve coverage of the attack surface,” Holt explained.