Over the last decade, the adoption of digital technologies has brought unprecedented opportunities for innovation, economic growth and improved public services. As governments and businesses around the world accelerate the integration of new technologies, such as AI, ensuring the security and integrity of data has become imperative. Amid rising geopolitical tensions and growing cyber threats, trust is now more than ever a critical foundation for digital progress. Many of the regulatory frameworks in Europe, such as GDPR, NIS2, DORA and the AI Act, are designed to foster digital progress as well as manage associated risks. These frameworks call for solutions that deliver not only strong cybersecurity and operational resilience but also support for organizations to retain control over their data.
Our Five Pillars in Support of Europe’s Digital Future
Palo Alto Networks has built a strong presence and extensive operations across Europe, aligning with the critical objectives of the regulatory frameworks. As a trusted partner to tens of thousands of organizations across the continent, we empower them to prevent cyber breaches and navigate an ever-evolving threat landscape. Our commitment extends beyond compliance, it is built on creating partnerships that advance our shared commitment to Europe’s values, laws and strategic ambitions. This commitment is structured around five foundational pillars, designed to provide unparalleled security, control and assurance.
Pillar 1: Customer Control Over Data
We believe that digital autonomy begins with direct control over your data. Palo Alto Networks empowers our customers with the necessary capabilities to meet data governance requirements in Europe and around the world.
- EU Data Residency for Customer Data: We provide the capability for our customers to host the data we process on their behalf within the European Union. This commitment ensures that your critical data remains in a tenant location that you select, aligned with your regional compliance mandates and the highest standards of data protection providing granular control over geographical data storage. This choice is foundational to our customers’ digital autonomy and strengthens their confidence in our service.
- Customers Choice in Data Provision: Our customers retain control over what data they choose to provide to Palo Alto Networks for processing as part of delivering our products and services.
- Customer-Managed Encryption: For applicable products and services, we offer Bring Your Own Encryption Keys (BYOK) capabilities. This feature is an additional layer of security that enables customers to manage the encryption keys used to protect their data.
- Customer Data Is Processed Solely to Deliver the Service: We process customer data exclusively and strictly for the purpose of delivering our products and services, in accordance with applicable laws and robust contractual commitments.
Pillar 2: Transparency and Accountability around Government Requests for Data
We are dedicated to protecting data and have committed to notifying customers if and when their personal data is subject to a government request. We believe this transparency is key to maintaining the trust of our partners.
- Publicly Documented Process for Responding to Government Requests: Our process for responding to government requests for personal data is rigorous and transparent. This process is designed to meticulously scrutinize every request, leveraging available legal mechanisms to protect customers within applicable jurisdictions.
- Consistent Global Transparent Reporting: We publish a comprehensive biannual Transparency Report, detailing all government and law enforcement requests for personal data that we receive. This reporting reflects our dedication to provide verifiable proof of our commitment to protecting data.
Pillar 3: Investing in Robust, Resilient and Secure European Infrastructure
Palo Alto Networks is committed to operational resilience and security by making substantial and enduring investments in its European infrastructure. We aim to deliver high-performance security and reliability when and where you need it.
- Geographically Distributed, Resilient EU Infrastructure: Our European infrastructure is designed for maximum availability and continuous service delivery. With a geographically dispersed, multiregion presence within the European Union, we aim to ensure exceptional operational resilience. We are safeguarding against localized disruptions, and minimizing latency for our European customers, while enhancing their user experience and critical service continuity.
- Expanding and Localized European Presence: We are continuing to invest in Europe with a growing physical footprint. Our EMEA headquarters is based in Amsterdam, supported by offices strategically located in other key European cities, including Paris, Madrid, London, Munich and many others.
- Dedicated Security, Engineering and Customer Support: We are further developing our dedicated security operations, engineering and support teams within the EU. These European-based teams provide specialized expertise, leveraging their deep regional understanding to support the continuous monitoring, management and security of our global infrastructure and services. Working alongside our global experts, their local presence ensures timely, localized customer support.
Pillar 4. Compliance with EU Laws and Active Partnership with European Regulators
The European regulatory landscape is dynamic and complex. More than just focusing on rudimentary compliance, we are dedicated to staying ahead of current and forthcoming regulatory frameworks and actively enabling our EU customers to meet their own evolving obligations.
- Proactive Adherence to Applicable EU Regulations: We are committed to complying with and actively supporting our EU customers to meet their obligations under applicable European regulations. This includes, but is not limited to GDPR, NIS2, DORA and the forthcoming AI Act. For example, Palo Alto Networks was part of the initial group of signatories and the first pure-play cybersecurity provider to sign the AI Pact, committing to applying the principles of the AI Act. Further, we proactively monitor legislative developments, adapt our offerings and provide expert guidance to ensure our solutions support our customers’ compliance journey.
- Leading with EU-Specific Certifications and Independent Assurance: To demonstrate our commitment to European standards and certification schemes, we continually pursue, maintain and expand our Palo Alto Networks product portfolio of relevant EU-specific certifications and independent attestations for our products and services. These certifications provide objective, third-party validation of our adherence to the highest European benchmarks. They offer an additional layer of assurance to our customers.
- Strategic Engagement with European National Cyber Agencies and Regulatory Bodies: Cybersecurity depends on collaboration and shared understanding. We maintain active partnerships with key European bodies, including ENISA, Europol, national agencies and industry groups, to exchange threat intelligence and stay ahead of evolving threats. At the same time, we engage closely with regulators to help shape practical, effective digital policies. This ensures our solutions remain aligned with regulatory expectations, build trust and support the resilience of Europe’s digital ecosystem.
Pillar 5: Fostering a Collaborative European Ecosystem and Local Expertise
Our investment in Europe extends across our people, our physical footprint and our expertise. We believe that true partnership is built on investing in regional ecosystems and innovation while training the next generation of European cyber defenders and partners.
- Growing Dedicated European Teams and Localized Expertise: Over the past 16 years, we have grown our diverse pool of dedicated European teams and subject matter experts across sales, support, professional services and R&D. Our European workforce now comprises over 4,000 employees and independent contractors, representing a geographically diverse range of localized experts. This ensures that we fully understand the unique operational challenges and cultural nuances of each market, enabling us to provide highly tailored, effective solutions delivered by local experts who speak our customers’ language and understand their needs.
- Leveraging EU Accredited Partners: We are committed to fostering a strong and trustworthy European ecosystem. We actively partner with and empower EU-accredited channel partners and service providers. Ensuring that our services are delivered with the highest standards of local expertise, responsiveness and trust, we are tailored to specific market demands. This ecosystem approach strengthens the entire security value chain in Europe.
- Strengthening Strategic Partnerships with Leading European Companies and Universities: We continue to strengthen strategic partnerships with leading European companies and academic organizations. This collaboration is a core part of our strategy to ensure that the delivery of Palo Alto Networks is deeply integrated into the European digital ecosystem, fostering local innovation and developing the next generation cybersecurity workforce in Europe through our Cyber Academy Program with participation of more than 200 European universities and colleges.
- Targeted Expertise for Critical Sectors: Our established expertise and dedicated focus on public sector organizations, defense, healthcare and Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) ensures our solutions are precisely tailored and impactful where they are needed most to address the unique security and compliance needs of these vital areas of society.
A Trusted Partner for Europe’s Digital Future
At Palo Alto Networks, we recognize that our European customers demand more than just cutting-edge cybersecurity; they expect enhanced digital autonomy, reliable service continuity, increased control and absolute confidence in how their data is handled.
We are committed to empowering Europe’s digital ambitions, in alignment with its robust legal, regulatory and ethical frameworks. We deliver technology that is not only designed with European needs in mind but is also continuously refined with Europe, helping organizations modernize securely and without compromise. Our five-pillar approach demonstrates our unwavering commitment to earning and maintaining the trust of customers in Europe and around the world. Trust is the ultimate foundation of digital transformation and independence. Without it, competitiveness, agility and true digital control cannot fully thrive.
To learn more about our comprehensive commitment to digital trust, privacy and security, visit the Palo Alto Networks Trust Center.
