Palo Alto Networks PA-Series Reviews

Our clients primarily utilize the Palo Alto Networks PA-Series as a VPN concentrator and next-generation firewall, particularly at the internet perimeter in Serbia. This setup effectively shields them from online threats and grants control over end-user activities, including website access.

The PA-Series has significantly enhanced our company's cybersecurity stance by providing us with comprehensive control over users and applications. With advanced inspection capabilities, we effectively scrutinize all network traffic, allowing only known users and applications to pass through the firewall.

When discussing threat prevention, key features essential for effective protection include thorough threat inspection, including virus and malware detection, as well as functioning as an Intrusion Prevention System. With comprehensive threat inspection, all potential threats are thoroughly analyzed, ensuring maximum security. Integrating Palo Alto Networks' Cortex XDR on endpoints further enhances threat prevention capabilities. This combination enables centralized analysis of security events from both the firewall and endpoints, facilitating a more comprehensive threat analysis and response strategy.

The benefits we've observed in Secure Traffic Management using the PA-Series are significant. Palo Alto Networks revolutionized firewalls with the invention of next-generation firewalls. Unlike other vendors who added this functionality to existing firewalls, Palo Alto Networks built their user interface from scratch, resulting in an exceptionally intuitive interface. Administrating the PA-Series is straightforward and user-friendly, requiring minimal time for users to become accustomed to it. Additionally, having everything accessible from one console enhances efficiency and streamlines management processes.

Security features like threat prevention, URL filtering, and DNS traffic inspection are crucial components of our setup. We also implement LightFire sandboxing for analyzing unknown files. Encryption of traffic is enabled, with careful consideration given to which traffic should be decrypted for inspection.

Comprehensive logging is essential for monitoring and analysis purposes. For remote users, the firewall can be configured as a VPN concentrator, with VPN policies defined within the firewall settings.

C Palo Alto Networks firewalls can be somewhat complex due to the various options available. They offer different devices and subscription models, including standalone firewalls and bundled options. Utilizing these features as a unified solution can require additional setup, particularly when incorporating Panorama for centralized management, which may involve extra costs.

I have been working with it for over ten years.

Stability is crucial when considering which version of the operating system to use for Palo Alto Networks devices. Recommendations provided on the Palo Alto webpage suggest opting for the most stable version available. Users often refrain from immediately adopting new releases due to potential instability. Instead, they wait until the release has proven its stability, a practice commonly observed with other vendors as well. Therefore, it is advised not to constantly pursue the latest release but to prioritize stability when making decisions.

Scalability with hardware firewalls is limited, as increased user numbers or higher throughput may push the firewall close to its maximum capacity. In such cases, purchasing a new device becomes necessary, as there is no inherent scalability. However, with virtual firewalls, scalability is simpler as additional credits can be purchased without new hardware. For instance, our customers typically upgrade to newer models every four years.

For technical support, I would rate it a solid ten. Our support team in Serbia is highly regarded and often considered one of the best in Europe. We provide exceptional support services, and even for the most challenging cases, Palo Alto Networks is deeply involved, ensuring that complex issues are addressed effectively. Our commitment to providing top-notch support ensures our customers receive the assistance they need, contributing to our reputation for excellent support services. For example, certain issues are not directly related to Palo Alto Networks' products. They often stem from users employing various solutions from different vendors, resulting in integration challenges and overall system malfunctions. In such cases, Palo Alto Networks' support assists in identifying whether the issue originates from their products or other vendors' solutions. The focus lies in troubleshooting the entire integrated setup to pinpoint the source of the problem accurately.

Positive

The deployment process is generally straightforward, but its ease can vary depending on the complexity of the customer's network and specific requirements. While deployments for institutions like banks may be more intricate and time-consuming, deployments for typical companies are relatively simple. I would rate it nine out of ten.

In our cloud network infrastructure, we maximize efficiency by deploying the PA-Series focusing on redundancy and advanced security measures. Typically, we set up two devices in a high-availability configuration to ensure uninterrupted operations. This setup synchronizes sessions between devices, eliminating single points of failure within the network. Some users with budget constraints opt to purchase a spare device without licenses. In the event of a failure in the primary device, they can quickly switch configurations to the backup device, although this process may take some time. On the network perimeter, we prioritize next-generation firewall features such as user identification, achieved through integration with Active Directory. This enables us to create policies based on user groups rather than IP addresses. Additionally, we utilize Palo Alto's application recognition capabilities to control application usage, allowing only approved applications while blocking others.

Maintenance is straightforward and can be handled adequately by a single individual.

The PA-Series includes various subscriptions such as URL filtering, sandboxing, and DNS security. The Alto license is also bundled with the device, simplifying the purchasing process. Other optional licenses include GlobalProtect for remote VPN access and an IoT license for managing internet of things devices.

Licensing is now simplified with Palo Alto Networks offering bundles of licenses, available for purchase over the past few years. These bundles, typically priced around forty percent lower than individual licenses, include essential features such as threat prevention, URL filtering, DNS security, LightFire, and SD-WAN. Users can easily acquire the device, bundle subscriptions, and support package, comprising support and device warranty. Some users opt for additional licenses like GlobalProtect, which may not be included in the bundle. Licensing options range from one to three years, with easy renewal upon expiration. The cost varies depending on the device model, with entry-level firewalls priced around $1,300 to $1,500, while higher-end models can reach prices of several hundred thousand dollars. Ultimately, the cost is influenced by factors such as the number of users and specific requirements.

Overall, I would rate it ten out of ten.

I use the solution in my company to protect our networks.

My company provides Palo Alto Networks PA-Series to our customers. My company takes care of the product's integration part for our customers.

The most valuable features of the solution are its areas like performance and stability.

The product is perfect, in my opinion. The product's high prices are an area of concern where improvements are required.

I have been using Palo Alto Networks PA-Series for seven years. My company operates as a system integrator for Palo Alto Networks. My company also has a partnership with Palo Alto Networks.

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

Scalability-wise, I rate the solution a nine out of ten.

The product is suitable for enterprise-sized companies.

I have contacted the solution's technical support. I rate the technical support an eight and a half out of ten.

Positive

I have deployed the product in a multi-site environment.

The product's initial setup process was simple.

The product's deployment and configuration phases are easy.

The solution is deployed on an on-premises model.

Not too much time is required to deploy the product.

The product is offered to users at high prices compared to the pricing model of the other vendors in the market.

I feel that Palo Alto Networks PA-Series offers better performance when compared to the other vendors in the market.

I don't have many details about the product's application control and visibility features since I had to deal with a lot of features in the tool during the deployment of the solution for our company's customers.

The tool is good enough to deal with cyberattacks and meet the requirements of our company's customers.

Considering the product's usability and user interface, I would say that it is easy to use the tool.

I recommend the product to those who plan to use it.

I rate the tool a nine out of ten.

I use the solution in my company to cater to the needs of our clients, so based on the requirements of the clients, we configure the firewall.

Palo Alto's advantage is that it offers very secure products. Unit 42 in Palo Alto and sandboxing are advantages offered by the product, along with the fact that it provides users with updates every minute, so users keep getting updates. App-ID is the name of a feature in the product that is very good. None of the other firewall products offer the aforementioned features. With the product, the area around NAT is very secure, and users get a lot of options for NAT.

The technical support offered by Palo Alto is an area of concern where improvements are required. It is very difficult to get technical support, which is a very pathetic area. If you try to figure out a solution to your issues with the help of a web browser, it is very difficult to find a proper solution. Other firewall products have proper portals where everything gets published with all the details on how to resolve an issue. There is a need to have a dedicated person or specialist to manage Palo Alto, but getting one is a problem. Overall, the area of technical support is not user-friendly.

I have been using Palo Alto Networks PA-Series for eight years.

Some issues are there with the stability part of the solution, but based on the feedback from clients, Palo Alto sends updates like all other solutions. One can say that the tool is mostly stable.

Stability-wise, I rate the solution a seven out of ten.

It is a scalable solution.

Our company has a strength of 250 employees.

My clients deal with two or three enterprise-sized clients who use Cisco. Small and medium-sized businesses use Palo Alto. Some of our big clients who operate at an enterprise level use Palo Alto.

It is very difficult to get to the product support team, and it takes at least half an hour to get connected with the technical team. I rate the technical support a four out of ten.

Neutral

For deployment, Palo Alto provides a tool that doesn't work properly on many of the systems from Windows, and only the product's previous versions work properly, but the latest versions don't work. Palo Alto offers Limited options to users and allows for easy migration when it comes to products like Cisco, Fortinet, or IBM, but for low-end servers, there are no options to migrate from the tool.

If a large part of a client's workforce operates with cloud services in place, then the solution can be deployed on the cloud. Nowadays, most people are moving to the cloud.

The time required to deploy the solution depends on the firewall size and configuration, but I know that it requires at least a month.

Our company has around 14 members from the network security side involved in the deployment process.

Price-wise, Palo Alto offers high-price products. It is mostly the enterprise-sized customers who prefer to use Palo Alto products. Recently, Palo Alto launched Palo Alto Networks PA-400, which is much cheaper than the other products on the market. My company has to make yearly payments or opt for a three-year payment when it comes to the charges associated with the licensing model of the product. The clients of the tool need to procure the license for the premium support. Almost all the vendors of firewall products follow the aforementioned steps nowadays when it comes to the licensing model.

Considering the presence scenario, I can suggest Fortinet since I found its products doing well in business. Support and configuration-wise, Fortinet is better than Palo Alto, but technology-wise, Palo Alto is the number one product in the market. Fortinet is much more user-friendly than Palo Alto.

The tool is not very easy to maintain, but people go for it since it is a secure product. Only those who know about Firewall products can maintain the solution.

Some of our company's clients have migrated from Palo Alto Networks PA-Series to FortiGate or Fortinet since it is very easy to manage with a very user-friendly UI.

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is a good solution, but someone in the organization should manage it since it is not a very user-friendly tool. If you want to configure something, you need to know how Palo Alto Networks PA-Series works and also know about what architecture is and all. Other firewall products can be easily configured since very user-friendly GUIs are made available to users. Checking logs in Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is very difficult. If someone knows how to check logs, then it's fine because otherwise, it's very difficult.

I rate the overall product an eight out of ten.

The solution is used for security and IoT security.

The solution's licensing price could be improved. The solution's GUI should be user-friendly and easily configurable.

I have been using Palo Alto Networks PA-Series for the last three years.

I rate Palo Alto Networks PA-Series a seven out of ten for stability.

The solution's scalability is not very good. Around 300 users use the solution in our organization, and we have plans to increase the usage.

The solution's technical support is good.

I have also worked with Fortinet and SonicWall.

The solution's initial setup is a little complex compared to other solutions.

It takes two to three hours to deploy the solution.

We have to pay a yearly licensing fee for the solution.

I would recommend Palo Alto Networks PA-Series to other users.

Overall, I rate Palo Alto Networks PA-Series a seven out of ten.

Our customers use the solution for multiple purposes. Some users use it as a core firewall to protect their servers. Some users use it as a parameter edge to terminate the VPN connection and to connect with their remote site.

The way Palo Alto Networks PA-Series works is completely different compared to other firewalls. The solution is very efficient when it comes to resource usage. We can use multiple processes at a single time. The solution is easy to manage. The most important feature of the solution I like is the reporting. If you want to check your data or traffic usage, you can export it in multiple formats.

Compared to other vendors, the solution's community should be strong enough to solve the problems engineers face. If I face any issue, I should be able to Google it and find the solution to rectify it. If one customer has no premium support, he cannot open a case with the portal. He should at least find some help or support from the community.

I work as a system integrator and have provided Palo Alto Networks PA-Series to customers for three to four years.

I rate the solution a nine out of ten for stability.

Multiple customers from the banking and corporate sectors use Palo Alto Networks PA-Series.

I rate the solution ten out of ten for scalability.

If you have a proper plan to start the solution's implementation, it's very easy. Since Palo Alto has a free-of-cost converter tool, for which you don't have to buy a license or subscription, it's easy to convert the configuration from other vendors to Palo Alto.

The solution's deployment time depends on the customer's environment, infrastructure, and requirements. A migration takes approximately one month.

Licenses for the malware and the URLs are not free, but converting the configuration is free. You have to purchase the licenses for Palo Alto Networks PA-Series. Compared to other vendors, Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is expensive.

If budget is not a concern, I would highly recommend users use Palo Alto Networks PA-Series.

Overall, I rate Palo Alto Networks PA-Series a seven to eight out of ten.

In our AWS deployments, we are utilizing Palo Alto firewalls to establish secure transit connections between two distinct AWS regions or locations. Within our AWS environment, we also host several critical services. Our primary objective is to enhance the security of these services.

The most valuable aspects are the App ID feature and its policy configuration capabilities, along with two other important features, specific feature management and CPU planning. These features have proven incredibly beneficial for our organization. They help us maintain stability in the network when issues arise, such as network congestion. Also, the data transfer between Virtual Service Providers has been seamless, and the standard S3 upgrade process has been impressive.

I encountered a slight issue with the application portal, which was not functioning correctly. Enhancing its performance would be highly beneficial.

I have been working with it for three years now.

It provides good stability capabilities.

It offers robust scalability features, suitable for accommodating over a thousand users in my company.

When comparing Palo Alto with other firewall solutions I've worked with, Palo Alto stands out as a superior choice. It offers a seamless transition from one option to another, making it exceptionally versatile and user-friendly in an enterprise setting.

The initial setup is notably simpler compared to other firewall solutions. When comparing it to other firewalls like FCD, ASA, or vendors like TechPoint, Palo Alto's setup process is much more straightforward.

While other firewalls may come with a higher cost, when you consider the cost in relation to the services and features that Palo Alto offers, it is clear that Palo Alto is delivering excellent value.

When considering an organization's needs, I strongly lean toward Palo Alto due to its flexibility. Its user interface is notably more user-friendly compared to other options and the way it handles data is impressive. The integration capabilities with products like XDR and Prisma for cloud deployments are excellent. Overall, I would rate it nine out of ten.

Most of our clients in Pakistan deploy Palo Alto Networks PA-Series for a variety of use cases. They primarily use it to target VLANs within their networks, including different types of networks like DMZ. These clients integrate the PA-Series with their applications, servers, and often utilize SSL VPNs for secure remote access. These scenarios are typical in the IT sector and align with the types of deployments we see commonly in our region.

We mostly utilize the Spireware profile within Palo Alto Networks PA-Series for threat prevention, which includes basic subscriptions like URL filtering. Many customers are highly satisfied with the threat prevention and firewall capabilities provided. While some customers use team applications like IBM SIM software, we primarily focus on mini CRMs for releases. Through integration and utilizing firewall data, we maintain a strong network security posture, addressing threats effectively. We also conduct security life cycle reviews and leverage tech support files from customers to continually improve our security measures.

The reporting feature and application ID functionality within Palo Alto Networks PA-Series are incredibly valuable to us. With the firewall, we can precisely control and block applications like WhatsApp, log activities, and prevent certain types of uploads. Utilizing the application IDs provided by Palo Alto Networks helps us secure our network effectively. Integration with other tools and systems further enhances our overall security posture. Some of our customers have integrated the Palo Alto Networks PA-Series with Forescout, and the integration is working exceptionally well. We've created policies using Post Guard to detect and block malicious traffic or duplications. When such threats are detected, both the firewall and Postgres work together to promptly block them within the network.

I don't have any specific suggestions for improving the Palo Alto Networks PA-Series at the moment. I find it to be a very effective solution, and I don't have any major complaints or areas for improvement in mind. However, pricing flexibility could be an aspect worth considering, as it has been a concern for some of our clients.

I have been using Palo Alto Networks PA-Series for 5 years.

Similarly, I find the product's stability to be top-notch, also rating it a 10.

In terms of scalability, I would rate it a solid 10 out of 10, indicating excellent scalability capabilities.

Regarding technical support, Palo Alto Networks has been very responsive and helpful whenever I've reached out for assistance or submitted a ticket, earning a positive recommendation from me for their support services.

Setting up Palo Alto Networks PA-Series for the first time is straightforward and easy, especially if you're familiar with firewalling and network configurations.

When it comes to handling large volumes of encryption traffic, PA-Series is effective when encryption detection is focused on sensitive data, although it may reduce speed for overall traffic. I rate PA-Series a 10 out of 10 and highly recommend it to other users due to its reliability and performance compared to competitors like Fortinet.

We use the solution for security purposes, like restricting traffic for which traffic you want to allow. You can control your network.

Palo Alto Networks firewalls offer single-mode panel processing with live scanning. While other firewalls only scan for malware in the first-stage store.

The SD-WAN feature of Palo Alto Networks is not good compared to FortiGate. It is also more complicated to configure, while FortiGate is much easier.

I have been using Palo Alto Networks PA-Series for three years.

The product is stable.

The solution is scalable. Our organization has more than 300 units in Europe and the USA. In the Asia region, they are using FortiGate.

We recently opened a ticket with the technical team, and they should be able to fix the issue. We have opened multiple tickets, and the technical support has been good.

Neutral

We have used FortiGate before. You can easily configure Palo Alto products compared to other firewalls. Palo Alto firewalls have many features, including live scanning, filtering, and use policies to control traffic. Compared to other firewalls, Palo Alto firewalls offer more security.

The initial setup is simple with no complexity. All firewalls are the same; we have implemented four to five sites. HA configuration is complex but easy because they are configuring FortiGuardian. We need to assign the bot’ IP address in Palo Alto, whereas FortiGate assigns only one IP. There’s no need to assign an IP from the active directory.

Palo Alto is more expensive than FortiGate.

Palo Alto is easily accessible, manageable, and offers more features and security. I recommend this solution.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.