Cato Networks opens London R&D hub for AI security

Cato Networks has opened its first dedicated London research and development hub in Holborn to advance its AI capabilities, security-focused product engineering and support growth among small and medium-sized businesses. The company plans to add more than 50 employees over the next three years.

The new site expands Cato’s existing London workforce, where the company already employs nearly 100 people in sales, marketing, customer success and support. The Holborn hub will focus on AI, next-generation security innovation and building closer relationships with SMBs to speed product development and go-to-market work in the region.

Researchers and engineers at the hub will initially work on improving the company’s AI features and on tools to help customers adopt AI securely at scale. Cato will form a security-focused product engineering team that will include data scientists, software engineers and product managers responsible for new features and products.

“The London R&D site accelerates our global research and brings us closer to a strong AI and cybersecurity talent pool,” Shlomo Kramer, Cato’s CEO and co-founder, said.

Avidan Avraham, director of engineering who will lead the London hub, added, “I’m incredibly excited to build an AI innovation hub in London and tap into the local talent and experience.”

The company aims to grow the London R&D team to more than 50 staff within three years. Cato described the hub as intended to meet rising demand for AI security capabilities and to place product engineering nearer to European customers and partners.

The announcement follows other technology investments in London. Earlier this year OpenAI announced plans for a substantial R&D presence in the city as companies expand AI and cybersecurity engineering teams in London.