Databricks acquires Panther Labs to enhance its cybersecurity efforts.

      Databricks presents a new strategy for combating cyberattacks in the AI era: counteract threats with technology. The $134 billion data-and-AI firm has announced its intent to acquire Panther Labs, a cybersecurity startup, as it expands further into a sector primarily led by Splunk and CrowdStrike. This marks Databricks' third venture into security acquisitions, underscoring the importance it places on this domain. The financial details of the transaction have not been revealed.

      Defend with technology

      The reasoning is straightforward, albeit concerning. AI has significantly reduced the time cybercriminals require to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in software. Attackers now leverage AI to rapidly seek out weaknesses in cloud and SaaS environments, outpacing the responses of human security teams.

      “To counteract their agent-based assaults, you must utilize agents for defense,” stated Databricks CEO Ali Ghodsi in an interview with Reuters. He declared the traditional approach to handling security alerts as “obsolete.”

      Panther is tailored for this battle. It consolidates a company’s security information into one location, allowing AI agents to efficiently triage alerts and autonomously investigate threats. It already provides protection for AI-driven ecosystems, which is increasingly vital as organizations aim to secure the influx of AI tools operating within large enterprises. Anthropic is one of its clients.

      Dismissing the SIEM

      Databricks refers to the outcome as a “security lakehouse,” explicitly aiming to replace the outdated SIEM systems that companies like Splunk have marketed for years. In March, Databricks initiated its own version named Lakewatch. The acquisition of Panther brings a well-established platform and a team experienced in developing cloud-native threat detection.

      This move aligns with a broader strategy. Databricks is progressively entering various verticals, with security being the newest focus. The acquisition of Panther follows two previous security purchases, Antimatter and SiftD.ai.

      The opportunity that was missed, until now

      There is a history here. Ghodsi recalls meeting Panther’s founder, Jack Naglieri, in 2021, where he proposed an acquisition over dinner. Naglieri declined and continued to develop the company. “That was a wise decision on his part,” Ghodsi remarked, “as his company’s valuation has risen since then.”

      Panther was most recently valued at $1.4 billion after a $120 million funding round in 2021, although this amount does not reflect the current purchase price from Databricks. Now, five years later, with its valuation rapidly increasing and a public offering on the horizon, Databricks has finally received the affirmative it sought. The acquisition remains contingent on regulatory approval.

      Published June 19, 2026 - 11:12 am UTC