The cybersecurity industry is witnessing a significant surge in merger and acquisition (M&A) activity as 2026 begins, with a pronounced focus on AI-driven acquisitions. Notable vendors such as CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, and Infoblox have either completed or announced plans to acquire other companies or merge with them in January, continuing a trend that gained momentum throughout 2025.
CrowdStrike launched the year with the acquisition of SGNL, an identity management startup, for $740 million. SGNL’s platform specializes in identity and access management, offering real-time monitoring and adaptive access control to enterprise accounts. This acquisition aims to bolster CrowdStrike’s Falcon Next-Gen Identity Security platform, enhancing its capability to manage access for human users, non-human identities, and AI agents based on real-time risk assessments. “This is identity security built for the AI era,” said George Kurtz, co-founder and CEO of CrowdStrike.
In addition to SGNL, CrowdStrike announced plans to acquire Seraphic, a company recognized for its expertise in browser security. Seraphic provides real-time visibility into browser activity and enforces security across various browser platforms including Chrome, Edge, and Safari. This acquisition is set to extend the capabilities of CrowdStrike’s Falcon platform into browser security, aiming to mitigate the risks associated with Shadow AI.
Meanwhile, on January 29, Palo Alto Networks completed its acquisition of Chronosphere, a leader in observability platforms for microservices and containers, as recognized by Gartner. The integration of Chronosphere’s cloud-native observability tools into Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex AgentiX platform is expected to allow customers to automatically identify and resolve security and IT issues. “Chronosphere accelerates our vision to be the indispensable platform for securing and operating the cloud and AI,” said Nikesh Arora, Chairman and CEO of Palo Alto Networks.
Infoblox has also made headlines, entering a definitive agreement to acquire Axur, a provider of AI-powered security solutions. This move is particularly relevant as cyber attackers increasingly leverage AI for sophisticated phishing and fraud campaigns. Infoblox aims to enhance its capabilities in addressing brand abuse and data theft through Axur’s advanced detection and takedown solutions. “Axur extends our pre-emptive security offering by giving customers the ability to see and stop these threats earlier,” stated Scott Harrell, president and CEO of Infoblox.
In a related development, newly formed NuView, a managed IT and cybersecurity platform, has acquired Beyond Secure, a Texas-based provider specializing in managed security solutions for regulated industries. This acquisition is intended to support NuView’s goal of consolidating managed IT, cybersecurity, compliance, and advisory services within a unified operating framework.
Enterprise threat modeling platform ThreatModeler has also expanded its capabilities, acquiring IriusRisk. This acquisition is poised to enhance ThreatModeler’s AI-driven security solutions by integrating IriusRisk’s expertise in collaborating with development and architecture teams. “With the addition of IriusRisk, we’re building the global leader in the threat modeling market to meet rapidly expanding demand,” said Matt Jones, CEO of ThreatModeler.
Lastly, OVHcloud, the French cloud company, has acquired fellow French firm Seald, which focuses on end-to-end encryption technology. This acquisition aligns with OVHcloud’s strategy to enhance its offerings in trusted cloud services while ensuring security and regulatory compliance. “Through this acquisition, OVHcloud can natively integrate end-to-end encryption into its catalogue,” the company said in a statement on January 26.
The spate of acquisitions reflects a broader trend within the cybersecurity sector, where companies are rapidly adapting to the evolving threat landscape shaped by advancements in AI. As these firms consolidate their positions and expand their capabilities, the industry is likely to see more strategic partnerships and acquisitions in the coming months, further underscoring the necessity for robust cybersecurity measures in an increasingly digital world.
See also
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