Palo Alto Networks: Aligning Physical Security with a Cloud-First Strategy

Overview

Palo Alto Networks, a global leader in cybersecurity, operates at the forefront of both hardware and software innovation, particularly in cloud security. With a global footprint spanning offices, data centers, and regional hubs, its physical security infrastructure must support consistent standards across diverse locations.

When it came time to evolve its access control environment, the company faced a familiar enterprise challenge: how to move beyond the limitations of an on-premises system without introducing new risk or operational disruption.

Palo Alto Networks partnered with Acre to implement a scalable, cloud-based access control model built on seamless integration, standardized deployment, and long-term collaboration.

The Challenge: When On-Prem Becomes a Bottleneck

For a global enterprise operating at the forefront of cybersecurity, security infrastructure must evolve at the same pace as the business. When physical access control lags behind, the impact extends beyond IT—it affects operational agility, upgrade cycles, and the ability to standardize across a growing global footprint.

For a company operating at the forefront of cybersecurity solutions, expectations around security maturity are understandably high.

As Eli Blumstein, Senior Director of Security at Palo Alto Networks, explains:

The maturity of today’s cloud solutions is so much more secure than anything you can deploy on-prem or any kind of cybersecurity solution that you can roll out for yourself.

Despite being a market leader in cloud-based cybersecurity solutions, their access control platform relied on locally managed infrastructure instead of a cloud-based management model.  

It’s been about three and a half years that we were on this on-prem system. We only upgraded once during that entire time. The difficulty of upgrading made it so painful that we only did it once [over that time].

The issue wasn’t that the system failed. It was that it created friction. Upgrades were disruptive. Maintenance was heavy. Innovation moved slowly. For a fast-moving global enterprise, that pace simply wasn’t sustainable.

Why Cloud — and Why Partnership

For Palo Alto Networks, the move to cloud was driven by clear operational requirements.

Eli points to four benefits that shaped the decision:

• Scalability to support change across a global footprint
• Integration through standardized, modern interfaces
• Cost viewed through total value—not just upfront spend
• Security grounded in the maturity and investment of modern cloud platforms

With that in mind, the organization required a solution that could:

• Integrate easily across a global footprint • Standardize deployments
• Reduce upgrade complexity
• Support long-term scalability

Integration and standardization were not abstract goals—they were practical necessities.

Only after evaluating these needs did partnership become the deciding factor.

When asked why Palo Alto Networks chose Acre, Eli was clear that it was because of the partnership. He highlights a dynamic that is often overlooked in manufacturer–end-user relationships:

We’re an end user, you’re a manufacturer. We work so closely together. And I think as an end user that’s what I want to see… the ability to integrate easily in a standardized manner. That is of the utmost importance for us.

For Palo Alto Networks, integration was not optional but an operational requirement. Acre was best suited to meet that need through its collaborative approach, working closely with Palo Alto Networks and its integrator to move quickly and deliver what the team needed with confidence.

The Outcome: Modernization Without Compromise

By moving toward a cloud-based access control approach with Acre, Palo Alto Networks gained:

• A more agile upgrade cycle
• Reduced operational friction
• Stronger alignment between its physical security infrastructure and its cloud-first strategy
• A standardized, integration-friendly model across locations

Most importantly, the organization was able to modernize without compromising security integrity. For a company whose business is protecting others, that standard matters.

What This Means for Enterprise Security

Palo Alto Networks’ journey underscores a broader shift: established, locally managed systems may continue to function, but they often struggle to keep pace with modern enterprise demands.

Upgrades become disruptive. Integrations require workarounds. Innovation slows under the weight of maintenance.

Modernization isn’t just about new technology. It’s about choosing a platform and a partner built for integration, agility, and long-term evolution.

Cloud maturity has advanced. Enterprise expectations have risen. Security systems should evolve accordingly.

Looking Ahead

For Palo Alto Networks, modernizing physical security was a natural extension of its broader cloud-first mindset.

Through close collaboration and a shared commitment to integration and scalability, Acre helped bridge the gap between on-prem limitations and a more flexible future.

If you’re navigating a similar transition, the right partnership can make all the difference.  

Speak with an Acre expert to explore how our cloud-based access control platform can help bridge your security today with what’s next.

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