NEC XON, a leading pan-African systems integrator and cybersecurity innovator, has officially achieved Palo Alto Networks XMDR (Extended Managed Detection and Response) Partner Status in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), joining an elite group of partners globally recognised for advanced threat detection, response capabilities, and strategic cyber defence.
This achievement validates NEC XON’s deep alignment with Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex XDR platform and its ability to provide proactive, scalable incident response services on behalf of Palo Alto Networks — a capability shared by only a select few providers worldwide.

In a hyper-connected business landscape, “more is better” no longer necessarily applies–especially when it comes to cybersecurity. In fact, the opposite may be true.
 
A recent Gartner survey reports that large enterprises now run, on average, 45 different cybersecurity tools. It sounds impressive—until you realise that this complex web of overlapping systems often creates more problems than it solves. Instead of strengthening digital defences, tool sprawl is quietly weakening them.

​NEC XON, a pan-African digital systems integrator and newly certified Palo Alto Networks Diamond Partner, has unveiled its platform-led cybersecurity strategy designed to maximise return on security investment (ROI) for enterprise customers across Africa and beyond.
 
“Tool sprawl is one of the biggest drivers of wasted cyber-spend,” says Arthur Taylor, Cybersecurity Pre-Sales Architect at NEC XON. “When every vendor speaks a different language, security teams drown in dashboards and false positives. Palo Alto’s platformization approach gives our clients one integrated, high-fidelity view of risk—cutting noise, costs, and response times all at once.”

​NEC XON’s Elite Partner Status with Pure Storage Renewed

​NEC XON has been re-appointed as an Elite Partner by Pure Storage. The re-certification enables faster, more agile data solutions for regional businesses, with improved access to world-class flash storage solutions delivered by a partner with a deep understanding of local needs and proven technical expertise.

​As organisations increasingly rely on data to drive performance, the partnership brings tangible benefits: faster implementation, stronger support, and early access to innovation. Elite Partner status also gives NEC XON direct lines to Pure Storage’s engineering and technical teams, ensuring complex challenges are resolved quickly and effectively.

​NEC XON has achieved ISO 27001:2022 certification. This globally recognised standard for information security management underscores the company’s commitment to protecting customer data, strengthening its security posture, and ensuring compliance with key regulatory frameworks.

​By Armand Kruger, Head of Cybersecurity, NEC XON

The ugly truth is, cyber threat actors are harnessing AI to look for ways into your network. According to the WEF Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Report (2025) [reports.weforum.org] AI has democratised cyber threats. That means threat actors can automate even social engineering, run more extensive phishing campaigns and develop AI-driven malware with greater ease.