It started 18 years ago as a network security company that was focused on firewalls, but Palo Alto Networks Inc. has evolved into a different firm today.The company made a concerted effort to build a true cloud-native platform, dramatically reducing the need for sensor deployment or on-premises proxies. This approach has proved effective as it has enabled Palo Alto Networks to deliver security value as a service through software with a key focus on data.“We’re seeing the culmination of this long-term strategy where the company has been trying to build more of a platform,” said Zeus Kerravala (pictured), founder and principal analyst at ZK Research