Enhance security with robust DNS and threat prevention features
What is our primary use case?
The use case varies. I use it as a gateway, and others use it for microsegmentation in the cloud. Additionally, some deploy it on-premises to protect specific environments. Most of the use cases are in cloud environments.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features are the DNS security and threat prevention capabilities. The DNS security significantly enhances security through visibility and detection, allowing control over crucial traffic like DNS, which is often exploited by ransomware. Additionally, threat prevention and URL security are crucial licenses I recommend to customers, raising the security level substantially.
What needs improvement?
There are continuous developments with many new features coming every year. Although I receive feature requests from customers, I don't have any particular areas for improvement in mind right now.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series for more than ten years.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
Setting up the VM-Series is usually very easy. The firewall can be deployed and set up within half an hour, though it depends on the complexity of the configuration.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
In terms of stability, I would rate it eight out of ten. Perfection is unlikely as the dynamic nature of traffic and constant changes can result in occasional bugs despite regular updates. Perfection in stability remains challenging for any vendor.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I rate the scalability of
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series ten out of ten. It is easy to use with an excellent graphical user interface and extensive documentation, which contributes to its high scalability.
How are customer service and support?
I conduct most of the support myself and rate the overall support a nine out of ten. However, sometimes cases take longer to resolve, and there's always room for improvement, especially in terms of response time from higher support levels.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is straightforward and easy. The process involves registering and configuring the software, and with flex mode, it is easy to scale by purchasing additional credits for more CPU and RAM without needing new hardware.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The pricing is more on the expensive side, but it is justified due to its functionality, reliability, and throughput, even with all features enabled. In comparison to
FortiGate, Check Point, and Cisco, the performance does not degrade significantly. Although I rate the cost six out of ten, the features justify the higher expense.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I rate Palo Alto Networks VM-Series an eight out of ten. While no product is perfect, I am satisfied with its performance and value.
Enhance cybersecurity for large enterprises using advanced threat management
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case involves working with TVS Group of companies in India, a large automobile manufacturer. We take care of their entire cybersecurity system. We implement
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series firewalls along with third-party vendors and support them remotely for their day-to-day issues. We use these solutions to enhance cybersecurity and provide protection against various security threats.
What is most valuable?
The VM-Series firewalls are described as useful for security posture, offering next-generation features such as Unified Threat Management, app-centric capabilities, and threat intelligence. The firewalls use sandboxing and behavioral analysis to allow or quarantine new traffic. They help in identifying legitimate domains and instruct admins if approval is needed. This set of features is very helpful in daily tasks.
What needs improvement?
An improvement could be the integration of security intelligence with Palo Alto cloud via APIs. This would allow IOCs, domains, and hash values to be automatically entered, reducing manual entry. Integration with CSIRT across all use levels would make it easier for administrators to stay updated on the blocked entities without manual intervention.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been working with
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series firewalls for about four to five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Generally, the VM-Series firewalls are stable. I would rate the stability as eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable and can easily handle an increase in the number of users.
How are customer service and support?
I have worked with Palo Alto technical support for over two years. They are responsive and provide high-quality assistance. Previously, I have raised tickets, and they were efficiently handled by the technical team. My experience has been positive overall.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of the VM-Series firewalls is quite easy compared to traditional firewalls. It is manageable with fewer administrators required. On a scale of one to ten, I would rate the setup as nine for its ease of implementation.
What about the implementation team?
I am directly involved in the implementation of these firewalls. It typically takes around two to three hours to deploy the firewalls in a single environment.
What other advice do I have?
The solution is user-friendly and easy to manage within an environment. As a VM, it requires no physical space and can be managed with one or two admins. It's also 99.9% secure, according to cloud security standards. Overall, I give Palo Alto Networks VM-Series a rating of nine out of ten.
Secures remote work with advanced threat protection and efficient traffic management
What is our primary use case?
I am using
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series because almost all my application infrastructure is hosted on
AWS.
AWS supports deploying
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series in their marketplace, and Palo Alto is a leader in security in the firewall market. I also use the
GlobalProtect VPN from Palo Alto Networks.
What is most valuable?
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series is very strong in security features like antivirus, anti-spyware, and machine learning capabilities that help scan for antivirus and anti-spam. This ensures high security for internal and external traffic. They frequently update antivirus patterns and application threats, which provides reliable protection. I also value
GlobalProtect VPN for supporting remote users as most of my employees work remotely. Additionally, Palo Alto Networks helps me visualize and manage network traffic effectively, blocking risky files and enhancing network security.
What needs improvement?
Currently, I do not have specific suggestions for Palo Alto Networks VM-Series improvements. I am happy with the rich features provided. As I have only used it for four months, I might need more time to explore and suggest enhancements.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Palo Alto Networks VM-Series since December 2020, around four months.
What was my experience with deployment of the solution?
Deploying Palo Alto Networks VM-Series was a bit challenging. I rate it a six out of ten for ease, as it required going through extensive documentation to set it up. Deployment took nearly a week to complete.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the stability of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series as seven out of ten. I have not experienced any major problems or downtime, but I haven't yet explored all its features.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Currently, I do not have a clear answer about the scalability of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series as I have not scaled it yet.
How are customer service and support?
I have not directly used Palo Alto's technical support as I rely on vendor support. The vendor provides me with documentation when needed.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Before using Palo Alto Networks VM-Series, I used a physical box on-premises. The switch was due to moving all infrastructure to AWS, necessitating a virtual solution.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series was somewhat challenging, requiring extensive documentation review. I rate it a six out of ten for ease.
What about the implementation team?
I handled almost 100% of the deployment myself. However, for specific features, I consulted the vendor engineer, who provided online documentation for guidance.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I rate the pricing of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series as six or seven out of ten. The cost involves purchasing through a vendor, which might mark up due to the supply chain. I've had no complaints about Palo Alto's pricing.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I did not evaluate other options before choosing Palo Alto Networks VM-Series, as it is a leader in the market.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I rate Palo Alto Networks VM-Series an eight out of ten. I am happy with its performance and rich features.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Amazon Web Services (AWS)