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reviewer2173212 - PeerSpot reviewer
Team Leader at a manufacturing company with 51-200 employees
Real User
May 3, 2023
We can manage everything from a single pane of glass, deploy all that out, and make sure it goes through each firewall and updates correctly
Pros and Cons
  • "I like the navigation of the general Panorama solution. I can easily navigate around and get to the thing I need. I'm not wasting time trying to find something."
  • "Personally, I feel that their dashboards for reporting and things like that need some improvement."

What is our primary use case?

Our use cases include combining multiple next-gen firewalls and bringing them into the Panorama centralized platform.

How has it helped my organization?

In general, it's one of the better firewall brands out there. It definitely has the investment and the dedication of the Palo Alto team to constantly improve their product and move forward. They're not a static company, like some of the other companies out there, and that's why I like them.

From a firewall perspective, there is a unified platform that natively integrates all security capabilities, which is good because there is a single pane of glass. I don't have to go to every single firewall to look at certain things. I don't have to go to every single firewall to deploy rules. I can use Panorama to deploy the rules, so it's a one-stop job type of thing.

For securing data centers consistently across all workplaces, all next-gen firewalls pipe into the same Panorama centralized management solution. We can manage everything from a single pane of glass, deploy all that out, and make sure it goes through each firewall and updates correctly. That's huge. If you had to do it manually and you had thirty locations, that'd be like a day's job versus thirty minutes.

Having a centralized platform where they all feed into the Panorama solution significantly drops firewall-by-firewall management. We can use the Panorama solution to communicate with all of them.

What is most valuable?

I like the navigation of the general Panorama solution. I can easily navigate around and get to the thing I need. I'm not wasting time trying to find something.

What needs improvement?

Personally, I feel that their dashboards for reporting and things like that need some improvement.

Buyer's Guide
Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
902,456 professionals have used our research since 2012.

For how long have I used the solution?

We've been using Palo Alto for one to two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It has been very stable so far.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

So far, it has been scalable enough to hit multiple divisions.

How are customer service and support?

I have not personally contacted their support. That just dictates that they have a good product.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We also use Cisco firewalls.

How was the initial setup?

I am not directly involved in its deployment, but I do help manage it. To my knowledge, the deployment was straightforward. It was easy to connect them into the Panorama platform.

What about the implementation team?

There was a consultant. They knew their stuff.

What was our ROI?

There is typically no return on investment for firewalls because it's an IT cost, and we don't make money because we don't resell them.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It's pretty good.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated Fortinet and Check Point.

What other advice do I have?

The value I receive from attending an RSA Conference is huge because I visit all my vendor partners to understand their roadmaps for the future. Attending an RSA Conference has had an impact on our organization’s cybersecurity purchases made throughout the year afterward because it brings out new features and subsets of the vendor partners. Also, if there is a deficiency in any of the current ones we currently use, we'll go engage other providers in order to find out if they can reach that gap or not, and then it'll dictate future proof of concepts and decisions.

Palo Alto embeds machine learning in the core of the firewall to provide inline, real-time attack prevention, but I personally haven't experienced that. It's a good thing that there hasn't been an attack where that became useful, but that's great to know.

As a result of our experience with Palo Alto NGFW, to a colleague at another company who says, “We are just looking for the cheapest and fastest Firewall,” I would say, "Go with Palo Alto."

Overall, I would rate Palo Alto NGFW an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2169330 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr Security Analyst at a mining and metals company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Real User
May 2, 2023
Has an organized, user-friendly interface and is relatively stable
Pros and Cons
  • "Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls have a very nice interface for logging and monitoring. I find it easy to navigate and use, and the interface is organized as well. I can find answers within a couple of hours and have seen time savings."
  • "The customer-facing side needs to be improved in terms of the engagement and involvement of support staff."

What is our primary use case?

We use Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls for segmentation and basic routing. They are the gatekeepers for the network.

What is most valuable?

I like being able to investigate anonymous VPNs and also like to use traffic-capturing features. We've had some anonymous VPNs coming to our network, and we're trying to make sure that internal users are not able to use those to get past our security.

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls have a very nice interface for logging and monitoring. I find it easy to navigate and use, and the interface is organized as well. I can find answers within a couple of hours and have seen time savings.

We have Azure firewalls that are licensed through Palo Alto. It's super important that Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls provide a unified platform that natively integrates all security capabilities because we are moving almost entirely to Azure. Thus, the more Azure integration we have, the better it's going to be for us long term.

These firewalls have been efficient at securing data centers consistently across all workplaces.

We haven't had many downtime issues with Palo Alto.

What needs improvement?

The customer-facing side needs to be improved in terms of the engagement and involvement of support staff.

For how long have I used the solution?

My first exposure to this solution was about a year and a half ago.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The firewalls are relatively stable. We have a few that go up and down, but that has more to do with licensing issues than with the firewall itself.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support needs to be improved with regard to the time to respond and the response itself. We've been getting the same responses over and over again. It would help us out a lot if the technical support staff were more engaged or involved.

From what I've heard from our firewall engineer, I would rate technical support a four out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

What was our ROI?

We utilize GlobalProtect and have seen a better return on investment with regard to security and peace of mind.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Licensing is a big issue for us because of the complexity and the lack of engagement from Palo Alto. It has been hard to talk with them as we don't get the best answers.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We are always evaluating other vendors and are currently looking at Cisco. Though both Palo Alto and Cisco firewalls are feature-rich and provide very good value, Cisco is better at customer engagement. They are easier to talk to as well.

What other advice do I have?

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls are not the cheapest and fastest, but they are one of the top ones in terms of the most effective firewalls.

Overall, I would rate NG Firewalls an eight out of ten. They're definitely a top competitor.

I love the opportunity to see technical demos and take hands-on tours with some of the products at RSA conferences. They are the best part because I get to learn and gain exposure to new technology. It is particularly helpful when we want to look at other avenues.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls
June 2026
Learn what your peers think about Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2026.
902,456 professionals have used our research since 2012.
reviewer2171682 - PeerSpot reviewer
Compliance Analyst at a international affairs institute with 11-50 employees
Real User
May 1, 2023
The ability to provide secure access to people without having to carry an additional device around really benefits us
Pros and Cons
  • "Prisma Access is the most valuable feature of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls."
  • "In my opinion, the training provided is satisfactory, but there is certainly room for improvement. It would be great to have more comprehensive training at a lower cost, or even for free."

What is our primary use case?

We use Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls to protect small businesses that work within the defense industrial base.

How has it helped my organization?

By using Prisma Access, we can easily connect to our network from different locations around the world without having to deploy multiple firewalls. This not only makes it more convenient but also saves us a lot of expenses.

What is most valuable?

Prisma Access is the most valuable feature of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls.

The ability to provide secure access to people without having to carry an additional device around really benefits us in the defense industrial base.

What needs improvement?

The training provided is satisfactory, but there is certainly room for improvement. It would be great to have more comprehensive training at a lower cost, or even for free.

I would say that Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls provide a unified platform for many, but not all.

Having everything in one pane of glass is important to me because I have a lot of responsibilities. It would be really nice to have everything in one place, so I don't have to switch around between different applications and can stay focused on one platform.

It's important to have machine learning embedded, but it's equally important to not solely rely on it. We still need human interaction to ensure proper security measures. Nonetheless, machine learning is a vital component of our security strategy.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls for five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls have been instrumental in reducing our downtime as we moved away from less robust devices. By implementing Palo Alto firewalls, we have significantly improved our network stability.

If I had to estimate, it has saved us 10 to 15 hours per year.

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls is a very stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I haven't encountered the need to scale the solution yet. Our current setup meets our requirements and has been working well for us. Given that we are a small company, we have not felt the need to look into scaling it at this point.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support provided by Palo Alto Networks is excellent. Although I have only needed to contact them a few times, they have always been quick to respond, and their team is very knowledgeable.

I would rate the technical support a nine out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Before, we used SonicWall, but we decided to switch to Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls because they offer a much better solution and are leading the market.

How was the initial setup?

I was part of the deployment team, but since I was new to Palo Alto devices, the deployment process was more complex for me. That's where the training came into play.

I had to familiarize myself with their user interface and terminologies since I was used to using a different system. It took some time for me to learn and compare it with what I've used before.

What about the implementation team?

We purchased from a reseller.

It was a straightforward process. We made the purchase online and they shipped it to us. After that, it was a matter of getting it up and running.

What was our ROI?

It's difficult to determine. When looking at the ten to fifteen hours a year, it's unclear whether or not I would consider that as part of the return on investment. It's a bit challenging to assess from an IT perspective.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Reducing costs is important, especially since Prisma can be expensive. It would be great if it were more affordable.

Although the hardware can be expensive, the quality of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls is excellent. While a lower cost would be desirable, we recognize the value of investing in a reliable and effective solution.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

When we were moving away from SonicWall, we evaluated FortiGate and Meraki's solutions.

In my opinion, I was impressed with FortiGate's system on a chip. It was really fast compared to Palo Alto's, but I think Palo Alto has a better feature set and interface. As for SonicWall, we had several reasons for leaving. Regarding Meraki, I find their management interface not suitable for my needs, and they seem to be more of a consumer-grade or prosumer-grade product.

What other advice do I have?

I am not in a position to comment on the solution's ability to secure data centers consistently across all workplaces, from the smallest office to the largest data centers since I have only used their smaller solutions.

My advice to those who are seeking a firewall solution is not to prioritize the cheapest or the fastest options, as it could be risky. Instead, it is important to invest in the best quality firewall that is within your budget. This is something that I have experienced with Palo Alto Networks, which provides a high-quality solution that is worth the investment.

I would rate Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls a nine out of ten.

The experience has been amazing, with a few sessions resulting in new services that I can offer my company directly. The best part is that I can do it without having to invest in an expensive tool that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars.

It does impact the purchases we will make throughout the year.

If I can perform 95% of the work at a lower cost, we are unlikely to consider Mandiant and spend a significant amount of money. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2171652 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud and Data Center Ops at a financial services firm with 201-500 employees
Real User
May 1, 2023
Provide a unified platform that natively integrates all security capabilities
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable aspect of this solution is pre-sales and post-sales because of the support and relationship building."
  • "The solution could be more cost-effective."

What is our primary use case?

We chose Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls to replace our outdated firewalls.

How has it helped my organization?

The overall security of the organization has been improved.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable aspect of this solution is pre-sales and post-sales because of the support and relationship building.

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls provide a unified platform that natively integrates all security capabilities. 

The integration of all security capabilities in Palo Alto NG Firewalls provides a unified platform, which is crucial as it reduces complexity.

Having machine learning embedded in the core of the solution for in-line, real-time attack prevention is of great importance to us, it is a top priority. 

This is significant because it enables automation, reducing the number of man-hours needed.

When evaluating the ability of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls to secure data centers consistently across all workplaces, I would give it a rating of eight out of ten.

By using Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls, we have been able to decrease our downtime by several hours per month.

What needs improvement?

The solution could be more cost-effective.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls for two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls is a very stable solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls are easily scalable.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We previously used Barracuda Networks.

We switched to Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls after having a bad experience with our previous vendor for firewall solutions.

Palo Alto is more forward-thinking when compared to Barracuda.

How was the initial setup?

I was involved in the initial setup. It was complex in multiple ways.

The solution itself is not a simple solution.

What about the implementation team?

An integrator assisted us with the deployment.

They were helpful and knowledgeable.

What was our ROI?

I have experienced a return on investment with Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls. One benefit is that there are fewer man-hours required for deployment and maintenance.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

That solution's pricing and/or licensing are very convoluted.

What other advice do I have?

Based on my experience with Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls, if a colleague at another company said they were only looking for the cheapest and fastest firewall, I would not recommend Palo Alto.

I would rate Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls a nine out of ten.

Attending an RSA conference provides high value and helps us to see the impact of our organization's cybersecurity purchases annually.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2171631 - PeerSpot reviewer
Engineering Manager at a security firm with 11-50 employees
Real User
May 1, 2023
Seamless ecosystem integration, user-friendly, with helpful and knowledgeable technical support
Pros and Cons
  • "Some of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls' valuable features are their powerful capabilities and user-friendliness."
  • "The level of control and granularity in terms of rule customization could be enhanced. However, compared to our previous solution, Palo Alto provides much better drill-down capabilities."

What is our primary use case?

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls are being used for cloud security in our organization. Along with that, we have implemented SD-WAN, secure access, and XDR. These are the primary firewalls that we have in place.

Essentially, we have almost all of their products across their three suites.

How has it helped my organization?

The previous brand we used had a steeper learning curve for our engineers and analysts compared to Palo Alto, which is easier to use. 

We also have an excellent partner in Costa Rica who works with Palo Alto's team there, providing valuable support. Overall, our experience with Palo Alto has been very positive.

What is most valuable?

Some of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls' valuable features are their powerful capabilities and user-friendliness. 

Our security team has found it easy to learn and obtain the necessary certifications and training from Palo Alto.

Overall, we have had a very positive experience with this suite of solutions, including the training they have provided us.

We like the Palo Alto ecosystem and how its different suites of products integrate seamlessly. 

The sharing of information has enhanced our security posture as a company. Overall, our experience with Palo Alto has been very positive.

I believe that It is important that the firewall integrates machine learning to take advantage of all the information that is available, all the data that is available.

You have to integrate machine learning AI and things like that to be able to be a step ahead of the hackers.

Using Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls, we have experienced zero downtime.

The solution is user-friendly, which is important as it allows us to concentrate on other essential aspects of the company rather than spending time and effort maintaining the solution.

What needs improvement?

The level of control and granularity in terms of rule customization could be enhanced. However, compared to our previous solution, Palo Alto provides much better drill-down capabilities.

It is a solid solution.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls for six years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is a very solid, stable solution. We haven't had any issues with it, you know when we have to do updates there are no problems whatsoever. it's a very good solution.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is an important issue. It is very scalable.

We are currently protecting around 11,000 endpoints.

How are customer service and support?

In my experience, I would rate the technical support a ten out of ten.

They are excellent.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

Initially, I was involved in the setup, but then other team members took over and completed the work. In the end, we reviewed and went over the setup together.

What about the implementation team?

We had a lot of support from their local partner So it was very straightforward at the time.

I didn't come across any significant issues, but as engineers, we are always prepared to face challenges. 

Nowadays, nothing works as simple as plug-and-play like it used to be. However, we try to reduce the likelihood of issues as much as possible by working closely with project managers and performing thorough preparations beforehand.

Before doing the implementation. It was okay.

What was our ROI?

I believe we have seen a return on investment.

The time we used to spend on various tasks previously has significantly reduced with the implementation of Palo Alto Networks. 

The system is very reliable with no downtime, providing us with a sense of security that is important in cybersecurity.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The price of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls is high, but it is worth it if you have the budget for it. 

Budget is always an important factor in decision-making, but it was within our budget, and we were impressed by what we heard, tested, and experienced with Palo Alto.

It is difficult to know and assume the thought process of others. If they have budget constraints, there may be other manufacturers with a lower price point that would be a good fit. We try to evaluate from different angles, not just the budget, but also the technology and how it will fit with our needs. We look for strong capabilities where necessary, such as with Sophos and WatchGuard for smaller companies.

It can be difficult to know the thought process behind a company's decision when it comes to choosing a firewall solution. Budget constraints may play a role, and there are other manufacturers that offer lower price points, which can be a good option. However, it's important to consider technology and how it fits with the company's needs, as well as the strength of the solution. 

Smaller companies like Sophos and WatchGuard also offer solid platforms, and they may be a good fit for those looking for a lower price point. Ultimately, it's important to assess what's important for the company and find a solution that fits those needs, both in terms of functionality and price.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Our process for evaluating firewall solutions usually involves consulting Gartner for their feedback, having sessions with our analysts, and focusing on the leading firewall manufacturers.

We evaluated several firewall manufacturers, including Check Point and Fortinet, but ultimately, we as a group decided that Palo Alto was the best fit for us. 

The decision was not solely mine but rather made by our managers based on the evaluations and presentations given by each vendor. 

We were particularly impressed with Palo Alto's presentation and even visited their headquarters located south of San Francisco. And we just felt comfortable, and it was a good decision.

What other advice do I have?

The RSA sessions have been very informative and enjoyable. Today is actually my last day at the expo, and I've been visiting some of the manufacturers that we already work with as well as some that I want to learn more about. Overall, I think it's been a great experience.

From an engineering standpoint, the expo is a great opportunity to connect with knowledgeable people beyond the marketing façade. It's worth investing time to engage with them, learn about their products and solutions, and find out what they're working on and what's upcoming.

Attending RSA has had a significant impact on our company's cybersecurity purchases for the next year. In fact, I am here with two other colleagues who are actively researching and taking notes on various companies and their offerings. They are gathering valuable information to inform our future purchasing decisions.

We've been coming here for many years now, and we'll not come back. It's a good place to get up to date on what's happening.

I would rate Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls a ten out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2171625 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud Infrastructure Engineer at a energy/utilities company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
May 1, 2023
Allowed for more flexibility in defining rules, as it was based on applications rather than strict port and protocol definitions
Pros and Cons
  • "The key aspect of this solution that provides the most value is its next-gen capabilities, which represented a significant change for us."
  • "It's too expensive."

What is our primary use case?

We deployed Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls for inbound and outbound protection, as well as DMC protection, in our data center.

What is most valuable?

The key aspect of this solution that provides the most value is its next-gen capabilities, which represented a significant change for us. Previously, we had been using Check Point.

We switched to this solution due to its advanced next-gen capabilities, which allowed us to create rules based on applications rather than ports or protocols. As a result, the solution became much more relevant to our needs compared to our previous solution.

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls allowed for more flexibility in defining rules, as it was based on applications rather than strict port and protocol definitions. This made it easier to adapt to changing needs and configurations.

We were able to automate things using the API. Savings are minimal, but we save a significant amount of time when we deploy rules that we learn when we deploy the policy. Is the process still the same? Perhaps the implementation will take only a few hours or minutes.

We have been exclusively using it for the Next-Gen firewall, MDPN, and remote access for a while.

It integrates the core capabilities into one.

To make it more affordable, we had to separate the integrated features into individual components. The integrated solution was more expensive than when we broke it down into separate components.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls for over five years, and perhaps even as long as ten years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls is very good.

We have upgraded it several times for additional features, and we have never experienced any crashes or performance issues. Overall, it has been quite stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

In terms of scalability, the cost is a limiting factor. We can buy a large number of them, but it would not make financial sense for us to do so due to the high cost.

In contrast to the cloud environment where you can scale incrementally and horizontally, in our case, we have to purchase the entire unit. As a result, scaling our responsibilities becomes challenging.

We have around 2,000 compute resources that need protection, so getting a large firewall is necessary to safeguard our environment.

How are customer service and support?

Technical support is very good.

I would rate the technical support an eight out of ten.

F5 and Cloudflare are types of support that were really good. There is no escalation whatsoever. The first person you get to already is the top-notch technical person.

With Palo Alto, you have to escalate, but eventually, you get to a good one.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The deployment process was easy.

We used a migration tool to transfer from our previous firewall to Palo Alto, and it proved to be quick.

What about the implementation team?

We received support from a Palo Alto sales engineer.

What was our ROI?

While Palo Alto is expensive, it's still the better option compared to the other two vendors that were evaluated since they didn't provide the necessary performance and benefits.

Overall, the expenses for Palo Alto are manageable, and it's worth the investment.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It's too expensive.

Although Palo Alto is a good and fast product, it is not the most affordable option out there, and it may not be the easiest to use.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated Cisco and Fortinet.

During our evaluation process for selecting a firewall vendor, we prioritize performance as the number one factor. 

Price range is ranked second in importance. 

Other important factors include ease of use, API support, and next-gen features, all of which are used as evaluation criteria. We have previously used Magic Quadrant, but it is important for us to carefully choose our firewall vendor.

What other advice do I have?

Integrating machine learning at the core of Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls would be highly beneficial. The ability to automatically detect threats without the need to create rule sets manually would be a game changer.

Attending events like RSA is valuable to me because it allows me to explore different vendors and products. Sometimes, I come across new vendors that I haven't heard of before, which is good.

Attending events like RSA can have a significant impact on our company's cybersecurity purchases throughout the year. If we come across a new vendor with a fresh approach to protecting the company or identifying threats, we are definitely interested in exploring their offerings.

I would rate Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2168700 - PeerSpot reviewer
Manager, Global Security Operations at a non-tech company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
Apr 30, 2023
Is updated often with the latest threat signatures and secures data centers consistently across all workplaces
Pros and Cons
  • "I like that Palo Alto does a good job of keeping the firewall updated with the latest threat signatures."
  • "The performance of the Panorama interface needs to be improved. It tends to be very sluggish at times."

What is our primary use case?

As a Security Engineer, I use this solution for protection. I put in additional rules and also use the solution for forensic investigations and to look at traffic logs.

What is most valuable?

I like that Palo Alto Networks does a good job of keeping the firewall updated with the latest threat signatures.

We use Panorama, so we're able to manage an entire array of firewalls in one console. It's really useful because we can make one change and deploy it to all of our firewalls.

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls do a great job at providing a unified platform that natively integrates all security capabilities. For example, we can easily export our firewall logs into our SIEM. We have so many tools to manage that having a unified platform makes our job easier.

This firewall is great at securing data centers consistently across all workplaces.

We have high availability, and Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls helped reduce downtime.

What needs improvement?

The performance of the Panorama interface needs to be improved. It tends to be very sluggish at times.

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls for five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I have not heard of any complaints or issues regarding the stability of the firewalls.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We can easily add nodes into Panorama with no problem. As such, scalability is not an issue. We have an enterprise environment with approximately 15,000 users in multiple countries.

How are customer service and support?

I haven't had to call technical support, but my colleagues have. They've always spoken positively about the experience and would probably rate the technical support an eight out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

My organization used Cisco Secure Firewall ASA and switched to Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls because Cisco was lagging behind in many features. For example, the management interface on the ASAs was awful compared to that in the NG Firewalls.

What was our ROI?

We have absolutely seen an ROI in the fact that we haven't ended up in the news. We can look at any time and see all the threats that have been stopped by Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls.

What other advice do I have?

If you are looking for the cheapest and fastest firewall, I would say that it's a risky angle to take. Security costs money, and you'll get what you pay for.

The benefits I receive from attending an RSA conference are networking, meeting people and having conversations face-to-face, making contacts in the industry, getting suggestions about products, and attending briefings about specific products.

Also, attending RSAC can have an impact on your organization’s cybersecurity purchases because you may find out about products that you hadn't heard of before.

Overall, I would rate Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls an eight on a scale from one to ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2169345 - PeerSpot reviewer
CISO at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Real User
Apr 27, 2023
It offers better Layer 7 protection than competing solutions and it's easier to deploy
Pros and Cons
  • "Palo Alto offers better Layer 7 protection than competing solutions by Cisco and Fortinet. I also like the VPN client more. The interface is simple, so administrators can deploy and configure it much faster than other firewalls"
  • "The first level of support will usually do nothing for you. If you're an IT company, you're not looking for level one support. You need to escalate. Other vendors have a direct support line for enterprise clients, but not Palo Alto."

What is our primary use case?

I use NG Firewalls for perimeter defense. 

How has it helped my organization?

We've seen better throughput compared to our previous firewall. End-users are happier with their connections through Palo Alto. 

What is most valuable?

Palo Alto offers better Layer 7 protection than competing solutions by Cisco and Fortinet. I also like the VPN client more. The interface is simple, so administrators can deploy and configure it much faster than other firewalls. The interoperability with other vendors is excellent. We can connect Palo Alto firewalls to all our other solutions. 

What needs improvement?

I would like to see more artificial intelligence. However, that is going beyond firewalls to products like Prisma. Palo Alto has those features in an entirely different ecosystem. It isn't a problem. Machine learning is valuable, but I rely more on threat intel. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Palo Alto's solutions since 2014.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate Palo Alto NG Firewalls a nine out of ten for stability. We have had zero downtime except for scheduled maintenance. The firewalls are in a cluster that never goes down.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is excellent because you can always purchase a bigger firewall as you grow. 

How are customer service and support?

I rate Palo Alto's support a seven out of ten. It is good overall but worse in some regions. The first level of support will usually do nothing for you. If you're an IT company, you're not looking for level-one support. You need to escalate. Other vendors have a direct support line for enterprise clients, but not Palo Alto.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Palo Alto has a better interface and integration with other solutions than competing vendors. The only drawback is the price. Go with FortiGate if you're looking for a firewall that is cheap and decent. If you can't afford Palo Alto, FortiGate is the next cheapest. 

How was the initial setup?

We can deploy Palo Alto firewalls faster and easier than most other solutions. We assess the traffic, buy the appropriate size, and implement it. 

What was our ROI?

Palo Alto firewalls are expensive, but they're worth what we pay. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate Palo Alto NG Firewalls a nine out of ten. Technical support has some room for improvement, and there are several minor issues that aren't worth mentioning. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer1721973 - PeerSpot reviewer
Network administrator at a educational organization with 201-500 employees
Real User
Apr 20, 2023
A comfortable and easy to use solution with a helpful URL filtering feature
Pros and Cons
  • "There are many valuable features within the solution. This includes security, a user-friendly firewall, antivirus, and global protection."
  • "The VPN has room for improvement."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution to protect our network environment. We use three versions: 230, 440, and 820. 

How has it helped my organization?

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls embed machine learning into the core of the firewall to provide real-time attack prevention, which is wonderful.

We check the machine learning logs to secure our networks against threats that are able to evolve more rapidly. 

I find the solution to be comfortable and easy to use. While I cannot completely authenticate my devices, I am able to distinguish between private devices and use them for authentication in some way, which is very helpful. The URL filtering feature is also helpful and I am very satisfied with the firewall delivery.

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls provide a unified platform that natively integrates all our security capabilities through Cortex XDR.

I give the solution's single-pass architecture for performance and security an eight out of ten.

What is most valuable?

There are many valuable features within the solution. This includes security, a user-friendly firewall, antivirus, and global protection.

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls' documentation, features, and user-friendliness are excellent.

What needs improvement?

The VPN has room for improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for two and a half years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

For the most part, the stability is good but we sometimes face problems with the VPN connections.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The solution is scalable. We have 150 people that use the solution.

How are customer service and support?

We often don't have to open a ticket as the documentation provided is usually comprehensive, and we can usually resolve most issues on our own. The one time I submitted a ticket, the technical support was not able to resolve the issue.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I previously used Forcepoint Next-Generation Firewall which is cheaper than Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls but I prefer Palo Alto because it is user-friendly and supports more devices and features. 

How was the initial setup?

I was not involved in the initial setup but I did migrate the 820 to the 440 and it was straightforward. The migration took a few hours.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls are expensive.

There is an additional cost for support.

What other advice do I have?

I give the solution nine out of ten.

The maintenance consists of regular updates only.

Currently, we do not use Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls across our entire network but we have plans to extend them in the future.

I recommend Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls to others.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Satria Ady Pradana - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at PT. Mitra Integrasi Informatika
Reseller
Dec 4, 2022
Provides a layer 7 firewall and allows us to make rules to filter the application layer of traffic
Pros and Cons
  • "The most important feature is the firewall. We can make rules to filter the application layer of traffic. It's a very helpful feature."
  • "I would like to see more integration."

What is our primary use case?

We are resellers. We're testing this solution in our network and learning about the scalability, how to set up the firewall, and the rules. It's a layer 7 firewall, so we want to know about the capabilities and detection.

The solution is deployed on-premises.

What is most valuable?

The most important feature is the firewall. We can make rules to filter the application layer of traffic. It's a very helpful feature.

The interface is user-friendly. It minimizes clicks and the need to type comments. With the GUI, we just have to drag and drop. It's quite helpful. For those who don't have a lot of experience with Palo Alto, there's a lot of good documentation.

The machine learning is very good. From our tests, the detection is quite good. I would rate the machine learning a nine out of ten.

What needs improvement?

I would like to see more integration.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have used this solution for about eight months.

I'm a consultant and appliance tester. My job is to test the network and know how it works.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I don't know about the scalability because we only have one appliance, which we haven't upgraded.

How are customer service and support?

I haven't contacted technical support, but all of the answers to my questions are available in the documentation.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We previously used Fortinet.

How was the initial setup?

The installation is straightforward. It's just a simple button. The deployment took less than two hours.

We used four people for testing the capabilities and for the deployment. There were also three or four people outside my team who were involved.

What other advice do I have?

I would rate this solution a nine out of ten. 

To those who are interested in using this solution, what I would first say is that Palo Alto is a leader in Gartner. I would give them recommendations about the technical side, what we have done in our testing, the protection rate, the benefits, and how quickly and accurately the firewall can detect threats.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Reseller
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: June 2026
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.