Finding a solution for easy management, where the company is protected in a matter where an unwanted software is blocked.
IT Technician / Support
I like GlobalProtect, the URL filtering and the threat prevention, but the boot time should be improved on
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
Functional and very futureproof but a bit hard to manage, and the worst thing is that it takes almost 20 mins to boot up, and to commit a config takes half that time.
What is most valuable?
- GlobalProtect
- URL filtering
- Threat prevention.
These features are great, but they have drawbacks and could be a bit better, flexible, and easy to manage since it takes the admin time to get them right.
What needs improvement?
- Boot time
- Easy UI for the non-network specialists
- Commit time
- Virtualization
- Credit to Palo Alto knowledgebase.
Buyer's Guide
Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.
For how long have I used the solution?
One to three years.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Team Leader at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Plenty of useful features, reliable, but priced high
Pros and Cons
- "There are plenty of features available in this solution, such as attack blocker and spam blocker. Additionally, it is very robust and in-depth."
- "The solution is not straightforward."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution to protect our network.
How has it helped my organization?
This solution has helped our organization by protecting the perimeter of our network from both internal and external threats.
What is most valuable?
There are plenty of features available in this solution, such as attack blocker and spam blocker. Additionally, it is very robust and in-depth.
What needs improvement?
The solution is not straightforward.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for approximately eight years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is good. We have approximately 500 users using this solution in my company.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was complex. The full installation, including customize to meet our requirements, took approximately one month.
What about the implementation team?
We used the help from an integrator team for the implementation.
What was our ROI?
The technical support is satisfactory.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The price of the solution is on the higher side compared to competitors.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We are currently looking for a better-priced solution.
What other advice do I have?
This is a very good solution but it is very expensive.
I rate Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls a six out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Buyer's Guide
Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls
December 2024
Learn what your peers think about Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: December 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Service Delivery Engineer - Network Security Lead at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Very flexible, integrates well with apps and other security tools; robust
Pros and Cons
- "Flexible and integrates well with apps and other security tools."
- "Interface could be improved visually and simplified."
What is our primary use case?
I deploy this solution for our clients. Firewalls can be used when you want to achieve SD-WAN connectivity. In a client's VPN or site-to-site VPN, it can be used to secure networks locally. If you have an extender or server room, you can secure your IT infrastructure for your servers. The solution can be installed on edge to protect your internal network. If you have services running on AWS or Google Cloud, or Alibaba Cloud, it can be deployed there. Some clients have a hybrid kind of infrastructure. I'm a service delivery engineer and network security lead and we are customers of Palo Alto.
What is most valuable?
It's a flexible solution and integrates well with apps and other security tools like SIEM, web applications. They can share their data orchestration. It's robust and fast in terms of architecture and data processing, there aren't any bottlenecks.
What needs improvement?
The interface could be improved visually and simplified. It sometimes feels like some of the features are hidden and not easy to find.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
This is a very stable solution.
How are customer service and technical support?
In terms of technical support, I've noticed that as long as you have an enterprise license the support is good.
How was the initial setup?
For a beginner, the initial setup might be somewhat complex because the interface is a bit different, so there's a learning curve. It's not that steep, and once you get it, it's okay. In terms of other solutions, the Palo Alto deployment takes longer than Fortinet, for example, because of the intricacy of the user interface. In a medium size organization, deployment can take three to four days.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution. The uptake is mostly with medium and large enterprise, it's strong there. For small to medium size businesses, the preference is usually Fortinet or Sophos. It's really about what suits the client.
I would rate this solution an eight out of 10.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Integrator
Chief Executive Officer at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Provides a high level of security and the app ID is very good
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is very stable."
- "Generating reports is not so easy."
What is our primary use case?
I primarily use this solution for the core banking network. It's for core security. So it's to protect against intrusion, to protect against any kind of cyber attack that can happen to it. It protects our core infrastructure.
How has it helped my organization?
Mostly it's improved the security side. There was no security before, and we were looking for a solution that could give us the exact capacity to do all the configurations that we need, while also providing a high level of security.
What is most valuable?
The app ID is very good.
What needs improvement?
The support needs improvement. Also, better reporting of errors would be good.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using the solutions for over 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is very stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability is not so good. Because if you want to upgrade, you have to change the service completely. We have about 2000 users.
How are customer service and technical support?
It's a long wait time, although sometimes it's been quicker to get them. Occasionally, the type of answers provided are not so great.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We used to use Check Point, but we switched. It's because we found Palo Alto is better. Check Point is much slower, more expensive.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was straightforward for us. We are technology oriented, so for us, it was straightforward. No complexities. For deployment, we needed about 5 people. Maintenance is only three people. Three engineers are looking after the books.
What about the implementation team?
We did the implementation ourselves.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
I would advise anyone to go ahead and understand exactly what they need. It's not because Palo Alto's cost is a little less. Depending on use, it's expensive. So they should understand the requirements first, before going with Palo Alto.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We previously had Check Point and eventually compared it with the Palo Alto screening, which proved that Palo Alto was the best. It was not a difficult choice.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate this solution 8 out of 10. Generating reports is not so easy. I think with support, for everyone, and for all the bank company workers, they can do that a bit better. Then maybe I would rate them higher.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Sales Engineer at a wholesaler/distributor with 51-200 employees
Good configuration capabilities, easy scaling abilities, and good functionality
Pros and Cons
- "Good functionality and features."
- "Could also use better customer support."
What is our primary use case?
I use the solution for firewalls.
What is most valuable?
I find the configuration the most valuable.
What needs improvement?
The support in our country can be slow sometimes. It's a slow website. It could also use better customer support.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for 1.5 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution's stability is normal.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
My impression of the scalability is that it is easy.
How are customer service and technical support?
I contacted technical support a lot of times. Most of the time, they were pretty good, but sometimes technical support couldn't resolve the issue, and they don't know what to do.
How was the initial setup?
The setup of the firewalls has medium difficulty. On one configuration it was easy, and on another one it was hard. Sometimes it's normal to configure sometimes it's more complex. You only need one person, maybe two, for deployment at a company.
What about the implementation team?
I did the implementation myself.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
At our company, we sell the solution for another vendor, and they sell to another vendor. So our pricing is more expensive than other vendors.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
I didn't look at any other vendors.
What other advice do I have?
The functionality is good and so are the features. In terms of implementing the solution, I wish it was better. I would rate the solution 8 out of 10, mostly due to the technical issues I've experienced.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner.
Partner & vCISO at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
It has better manageability and overall features than its competitors
Pros and Cons
- "We standardized on the product and got rid of several other types of firewalls from different vendors."
- "It is very scalable."
- "I would like integration with Evident.io and RedLock."
- "The data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities need to be beefed up."
What is our primary use case?
Firewall.
How has it helped my organization?
We standardized on the product and got rid of several other types of firewalls from different vendors.
What is most valuable?
The firewall has a lot of sub-capabilities underneath it.
What needs improvement?
I would like integration with Evident.io and RedLock.
The data loss prevention (DLP) capabilities need to be beefed up.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The stability is good.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is very scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
We have had that many problems, so we haven't had to engage with their tech support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I was not pleased with my previous solutions.
We switched to Palo Alto for better manageability and overall features.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup was pretty straightforward.
What about the implementation team?
We deployed in-house.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Annually, the licensing costs are too much.
What other advice do I have?
I would certainly encourage someone to look into this solution.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Network Engineer & Security Specialist at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
A user-friendly solution with useful application control, IPS, and sandboxing features
Pros and Cons
- "Application control, IPS, and sandboxing towards the cloud are the most valuable features. It is a very user-friendly product with a very easy-to-use interface."
- "Its stability can be better. Their technical response from the support side can also be better."
What is our primary use case?
It protects from any unwanted traffic or any kind of attack toward your LAN. It just minimizes the risk. It does not completely eradicate the risk.
We have the latest version of this solution.
What is most valuable?
Application control, IPS, and sandboxing towards the cloud are the most valuable features. It is a very user-friendly product with a very easy-to-use interface.
What needs improvement?
Its stability can be better. Their technical response from the support side can also be better.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for a couple of years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is stable, but its stability can be better.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
If you got the product for 100 users and the company has grown to 500 people, this product will not be scalable. You will need another hardware that has more resources.
How are customer service and technical support?
Their technical support is very good, but their technical response can be better. You might face some difficulties due to COVID, but they have been very good most of the time. It also depends on the region from where you are calling.
How was the initial setup?
It is very much straightforward. It is a friendly product, but one should have basic knowledge of networking and security.
The deployment duration and the number of people required vary based on the requirements. A security product doesn't work in a way where you just install it, and it starts functioning. You need to keep improvising and updating it. It is an ongoing process for all security products.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
You pay based on the kind of license you require, but comparatively, it is not very expensive.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend this solution to others. If you have internet, you should definitely have a firewall in your network. When you're exposed to the internet, you're exposed to risks. You definitely need a next-generation firewall in corporate networks.
I would rate Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls an eight out of ten.
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: Partner
Cloud Security Engineer at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
A very reliable, scalable, and solid product with very good support
Pros and Cons
- "URL filtering and WildFire features are most valuable. It is very user-friendly. It is a very solid product, and it definitely works."
- "In the cloud, the HA could be a lot better. Its price could also be better. It is very expensive."
What is our primary use case?
We've put it in hospitals and very large private and government businesses. We have its latest version.
What is most valuable?
URL filtering and WildFire features are most valuable. It is very user-friendly.
It is a very solid product, and it definitely works.
What needs improvement?
In the cloud, the HA could be a lot better.
Its price could also be better. It is very expensive.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for about seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is very reliable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Its scalability is very good. We have hundreds of customers.
How are customer service and technical support?
Their support is very good.
How was the initial setup?
It was pretty straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It is very expensive. You pay for a year.
What other advice do I have?
I would rate Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls a nine out of ten.
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: Partner
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
sharing their opinions.
Updated: December 2024
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Download our free Palo Alto Networks NG Firewalls Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
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