Outsource Group partners with Palo Alto Networks in Ireland

Outsource Group has entered into a new partnership with California-based Palo Alto Networks, a global cyber security firm. This agreement makes Outsource Group the only Palo Alto Cortex Managed Security Service Provider Partner (MSSP) on the island of Ireland. The deal is projected to generate several million pounds in new business for the company, headquartered in Antrim.

This exclusive status allows Outsource Group to sell, configure, and deploy Palo Alto Networks' suite of AI-powered cyber security products across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. This agreement comes with full confidence and support from Palo Alto Networks.

The partnership follows a significant investment by Outsource Group, which has spent over one million pounds in preparation to become an approved Palo Alto Cortex MSSP. The investments include hiring staff, providing training, acquiring cutting-edge technology, and achieving various technical certifications. Outsource Group also underwent a rigorous assessment process conducted by Palo Alto Networks to verify its expertise and capabilities.

Terry Moore, CEO of Outsource Group, described this new partnership as a pivotal moment in the company's journey. "As a security-first focused business, it made perfect sense for us to partner with Palo Alto Networks, the global leader in cyber security, as we continue to build on our existing security-focused solutions and services," Moore stated. "This gives us a unique position in the marketplace, combining Outsource Group’s expertise, knowledge and experience on the ground in the UK and Ireland with Palo Alto’s technology, which is breaking new ground in the use of AI for cyber security defence," he elaborated.

Moore further commented on Palo Alto Networks' rigorous assessment process, saying, "The rigorous assessment undertaken by Palo Alto of Outsource Group’s expertise and capabilities and the ultimate agreement to enter into a working partnership and formal appointment of Outsource as the only Cortex MSSP on the island is a strong endorsement of our strategic security-first approach."

The new partnership is part of Outsource Group's broader strategy to enhance its cyber security offerings. In recent years, the company acquired ANSEC AI, a leading cyber security consultancy in the UK and Ireland. Outsource Group’s clients include some of the most complex and cybersecurity-focused organisations in Europe.

Shailesh Rao, president for Cortex at Palo Alto Networks, visited Outsource Group in Belfast to mark the beginning of this partnership. The collaboration will leverage Palo Alto Networks' innovative AI-powered security technologies alongside Outsource Group's local expertise and service capabilities.

The partnership highlights Outsource Group's investment and commitment to becoming a top security partner and underscores the increasing significance of advanced cybersecurity solutions in the current digital landscape. Palo Alto Networks’ AI-powered products are designed to offer enhanced threat detection, prevention, and automated security responses, which are critical for businesses aiming to safeguard their digital infrastructures.

The collaboration between Outsource Group and Palo Alto Networks aims to provide robust security solutions across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, reinforcing Outsource Group’s standing in the cyber security domain.