Cato Networks Bets on London, Tapping AI Hub for Next-Gen Security

LONDON, UK – June 02, 2026 – In a significant move that underscores London's rising dominance as a global technology nexus, SASE leader Cato Networks announced today the opening of its first dedicated Artificial Intelligence hub. Located in the city's bustling Holborn district, the new R&D site represents a strategic pivot to harness one of the world's richest talent pools for AI and cybersecurity, positioning the company to define the next frontier of network security.

This expansion is far more than a simple real estate acquisition; it is a calculated investment in intellectual capital. Cato's move signals a deliberate strategy to accelerate its AI capabilities in response to what the company calls a "surging demand for AI security." For a city that has worked hard to cultivate its tech credentials, Cato's decision is another powerful validation, placing it alongside global giants like OpenAI, Microsoft AI, and Google DeepMind, all of whom have recently expanded their London footprints.

"Cato's new London R&D site marks a defining moment and a meaningful acceleration into our next phase of growth," said Shlomo Kramer, CEO and co-founder of Cato Networks. "This strategic expansion elevates our global R&D footprint, anchoring us closer to one of the world's leading AI and cybersecurity talent hubs, and helping us build the technologies customers need to securely adopt AI at scale."

A Strategic Play in a Global Tech Capital

Cato's choice of London is no accident. The city has firmly established itself as a premier global destination for tech innovation, ranking third or fourth in most global ecosystem reports, behind only American behemoths like the Bay Area and New York. Recent data shows London AI startups attracted a record $3.5 billion in venture capital in 2024, solidifying its position as Europe's undisputed AI leader. With nearly a third of the continent's new generative AI startups based in the city, the ecosystem is a fertile ground for the kind of specialized talent Cato seeks.

The UK government's commitment, including a £2 billion pledge to the AI sector, has created a supportive environment for this growth. This investment from Cato, which already has nearly 100 employees in the UK across various functions, deepens its roots and signals a long-term commitment. The new hub will initially house a core team of data scientists, software engineers, and product managers, with ambitious plans for expansion.

Leading the charge is Director of Engineering Avidan Avraham, who is tasked with building a world-class innovation center from the ground up. "The opportunity here is vast, and building alongside other global tech giants that have chosen to set up in the city gives us access to a rich pool of experience and talent that we can tap into and develop," Avraham stated. He plans to grow the team to nearly 50 members over the next three years, focusing on tackling complex challenges in AI, data intelligence, and cloud networking.

The Dual Mandate: AI Innovation and Market Expansion

The London hub's mission is twofold, reflecting both the technological frontier and commercial reality. The first priority is to pioneer Cato's AI capabilities, integrating them deeper into its Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform. In an era where enterprises are grappling with securing AI-driven workflows and protecting against AI-powered threats, building a robust, intelligent security platform is paramount. This involves not just threat detection but creating a network that can autonomously adapt and respond.

The second priority is explicitly aimed at market expansion, particularly within the Small and Medium-sized Business (SMB) sector. The team will focus on developing intuitive, self-guided product journeys. This is a crucial strategy for scaling. By empowering smaller organizations to adopt and manage sophisticated SASE solutions without requiring large, dedicated IT teams, Cato can unlock a massive, underserved market segment. AI will be the engine that drives this simplification, automating configuration, troubleshooting, and optimization to deliver an enterprise-grade experience with consumer-level simplicity.

This focus addresses a critical market need. While large enterprises have the resources to navigate complex security architectures, SMBs are often left vulnerable, facing the same threat landscape with a fraction of the budget and expertise. An AI-driven platform that simplifies deployment and management could be a game-changer, leveling the playing field and accelerating secure digital transformation for businesses of all sizes.

Redefining the Future of SASE and Secure Connectivity

At its core, this initiative is about shaping the future of SASE. The convergence of networking and security into a single, cloud-native service has already revolutionized how organizations connect and protect their resources. The next evolution, as Cato's investment suggests, will be driven by artificial intelligence. The London hub's long-term focus on "next-generation security innovation" will be central to this transformation.

By establishing a dedicated, security-focused product engineering team in London, Cato is building a brain trust to tackle the most pressing challenges in cybersecurity. This includes developing proactive threat intelligence systems, enhancing zero-trust access policies with behavioral analytics, and creating a truly self-healing network infrastructure. For Cato's thousands of customers worldwide, this translates into a promise of a more resilient, agile, and secure operational environment.

Cato's move is a powerful statement about the symbiotic relationship between innovation and talent. By planting its AI flag in London, the company not only gains access to an elite pool of engineers and data scientists but also contributes to the city's vibrant ecosystem. It is a strategic bet that the future of competitive advantage in global commerce lies at the intersection of advanced technology and human ingenuity, a principle that is rapidly becoming the new standard in our interconnected world.