Cortex is Palo Alto Networks’ AI-driven SecOps platform designed to rethink and transform how security operations work across both the SOC and the cloud.

Instead of using separate tools for endpoint, network, cloud, and automation, Cortex brings core SOC capabilities into a single, converged platform through components like Cortex XSIAM, Cortex XDR, Cortex XSOAR, Cortex Xpanse, and Cortex Cloud.

Key ways it reshapes security operations:

• Unified data and tooling: Connects hundreds of data sources and normalizes third-party data so teams can work from one consistent view instead of juggling multiple consoles.
• AI-driven detection at scale: Uses about 2,400 curated AI and analytics models and 7,000+ detectors to correlate events and detect threats across endpoints, network, identity, and cloud.
• Automation-first approach: Automates investigation and response workflows to reduce manual work and accelerate incident handling.
• End-to-end coverage from code to cloud to SOC: Brings together code, CI/CD pipelines, runtime, and application context so teams can identify and remediate risk at the source.

The result is a more machine-led, human-empowered SOC, where analysts focus on decisions and strategy while Cortex handles much of the heavy lifting in detection, correlation, and response.

Cortex is built around an AI- and automation-first model for SecOps, designed to reduce manual work and improve both speed and accuracy of detection and response.

Here’s how it works in practice:

• AI-driven detection: Cortex XSIAM applies about 2,400 prebuilt AI and analytics models and 7,000 detectors across endpoint, network, identity, and cloud data. This helps connect related events and accurately detect threats at scale.
• Proven detection quality: Cortex XDR has achieved 100% detection with industry-low false positives and no delays or configuration changes in the 2024 MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Evaluations.
• AI-driven investigation and response: Cortex XSOAR uses AI to analyze alerts, identify root causes, and orchestrate response across SOC, cloud, and network teams.
• Automation of workflows: Default and custom playbooks automate repetitive tasks, notifications, enrichment, and remediation steps.

Measured benefits highlighted in the material include:

• 98% alert reduction with Cortex XSOAR, helping analysts focus on what matters.
• 75% less work for analysts through end-to-end workflow automation.
• MTTR reduced from hours to minutes by automating investigation and remediation.

Together, these capabilities help teams detect more threats, respond faster, and operate with fewer manual steps and fewer false positives.

Cortex extends beyond traditional SOC tooling to cover both cloud security and attack surface management, giving teams a more complete view of risk.

Cloud security with Cortex Cloud

• End-to-end visibility: Integrates cloud and SOC capabilities in a single platform, bringing together code, CI/CD pipelines, runtime, and application context.
• Secure code and deployments: Uses context-aware guardrails and CI/CD pipeline monitoring to help eliminate risk at the source before it reaches production.
• AI-powered posture assessment: Provides comprehensive risk prioritization based on code, runtime, and application context.
• Real-time detection and response: Delivers runtime insights that inform both immediate protection and longer-term code and cloud remediation.

Attack surface management with Cortex Xpanse

• Proactive discovery: Scans about 500 billion ports daily across connected systems, clouds, and exposed surfaces to identify internet-facing assets.
• AI-driven prioritization: Uses machine learning to map the attack surface and automate risk scoring, including for zero-day scenarios.
• Automation at scale: Supports 1,000+ integrations with third-party tools and can automate remediation workflows, including identifying asset owners and fixing issues at machine speed.

By unifying data from code to cloud to SOC and continuously scanning the external attack surface, Cortex helps organizations reduce cloud risk, address misconfigurations earlier, and stay ahead of exposed assets that attackers might target.