How Many People Work at Palo Alto Networks? Headcount and Employee Trends

Palo Alto Networks employs more than 11,000 people worldwide, reflecting steady expansion at the global cybersecurity company. Recent hiring out-paced departures, with 1,150 additions versus 902 exits, resulting in modest net growth for the organisation. The mix of new talent and controlled attrition indicates continued investment in both product innovation and go-to-market capabilities.

Engineering is the largest function, accounting for roughly 37% of the workforce with 4,163 employees—underscoring the company’s focus on research, development, and cloud security platforms. Sales and Support follows at 3,205 employees, highlighting the resources dedicated to customer acquisition and retention. Information Technology (1,036) and Marketing & Product (791) combine technical infrastructure with market positioning, while Business Management, Finance & Administration, Human Resources, Operations, and Consulting collectively round out the remaining headcount. This balanced departmental structure supports end-to-end delivery of cybersecurity solutions, from initial development through ongoing customer success.

Headquarters activities are distributed across multiple Bay Area hubs, with notable clusters in San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Clara, and Sunnyvale. A large proportion of employees—over 7,000—are classified under “Other,” indicating a sizable remote or globally dispersed population. Significant international presence exists in Israel, Bengaluru, and Singapore, and U.S. talent pools extend to Dallas-Fort Worth and New York. This diversified geographic footprint enables round-the-clock operations and access to varied technical and commercial talent markets.