Palo Alto Networks Adds ML-Powered Firewall to Microsoft Azure

Palo Alto Networks booth

The ML-Powered Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) from Palo Alto Networks is being added to Microsoft Azure as a fully managed Azure-native ISV solution. A complete security solution is provided by Cloud NGFW for Azure, providing features including Advanced Threat Prevention, Advanced URL Filtering, WildFire, and DNS Security. Customers can transition their applications to Azure safer and more rapidly thanks to this solution, which is powered by AI and ML and can avoid known, unknown, and zero-day threats.

Cloud NGFW for Azure is a Palo Alto Networks Azure-native ISV Service that would be quick and simple to purchase and install via the Azure portal. Customers don’t have to worry about scalability, resilience, or software upgrades since Palo Alto Networks completely manages the service. Customers can secure traffic across their entire network thanks to Cloud NGFW for Azure’s integration with Azure Virtual WAN installations.

Julia Liuson, President, Microsoft Developer Division at Microsoft
“With the preview release of the Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW for Azure, we are pleased to expand our ecosystem of native ISV solutions,” said Julia Liuson, President, Microsoft Developer Division at Microsoft.

“Enterprises are keen to move to the cloud quickly without compromising their on-prem security standards,” said Anand Oswal, Senior Vice President of Network Security at Palo Alto Networks. “With Cloud NGFW for Azure, an ML-powered NGFW delivered as an Azure-native ISV service, organizations can confidently migrate to the cloud and run applications at cloud speed and scale while maintaining robust security. This solution provides enterprises with the agility they need to compete in today’s fast-paced business environment, while ensuring that their cloud applications are secure and protected by industry-leading technology.”

“At Microsoft, we are dedicated to ensuring that Microsoft Azure is the most trusted and secure cloud platform,” said Julia Liuson, President, Microsoft Developer Division at Microsoft. “With the preview release of the Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW (Next-Generation Firewall) for Azure, we are pleased to expand our ecosystem of native ISV solutions and provide customers and developers with more options to meet their security needs. This collaboration between Palo Alto Networks and Microsoft combines the scalability and reliability of Azure with Palo Alto Networks expertise to help safeguard our customers against the latest threats.”

Machine Learning

Customers would get the following advantages with Cloud NGFW for Azure:

The Highest Security from Palo Alto Networks – Due to its machine learning (ML) based NGFW, it would offer great security features. Cloud NGFW for Azure would enable users to remain one step ahead of sophisticated adversaries by using AI and ML to identify and block known, unknown, and zero-day threats. Palo Alto Networks has been able to prevent approximately 5 billion events per day thanks to this cutting-edge technology, proving the usefulness of this solution in giving clients reliable protection.

Ease of Use – Cloud NGFW for Azure’s Azure-native ISV Service architecture would make it simple to use. As a result, clients can quickly purchase and install the solution through the Azure site, giving them immediate protection against cyberthreats. Due to Palo Alto Networks’ handling of scaling, resilience, and software updates, the solution would also be frictionless to use. Additionally, Cloud NGFW for Azure would seamlessly integrate with Azure Virtual WAN deployments, allowing customers to secure traffic throughout their entire network. Customers can manage their cloud security with the agility and flexibility they need while concentrating on their primary business goals thanks to this connection.

Consistent Security and Management from On-Prem to Cloud – Numerous advantages for customers are provided by the integration of Panorama with Cloud NGFW for Azure. In the beginning, it allows for the seamless extension of security policies from on-premises to Azure, streamlining operations and lowering administrative workload and total cost of ownership. What’s more, this integration would apply the same strict security policies in the cloud, guaranteeing that clients’ cloud environments are safe and secure from cyberthreats. Additionally, the integration offers centralized visibility, giving users important information about the threats affecting their network, from on-premises settings to any cloud. This would streamline administration and allow clients to administer their security policies from their current Panorama dashboard, freeing up their cloud teams to concentrate on application migration and new application development.

“We continue to see enterprises rapidly moving their applications to the cloud, with many choosing Microsoft Azure as their primary cloud provider,” said Fernando Montenegro, senior principal analyst at Omdia. “We also see organizations making good use of their existing in-house network security expertise, maintaining consistency between security policies for cloud and on-premises, and optimizing management activities. Palo Alto Networks’ release of Cloud NGFW for Azure touches on all of these points by offering a cloud-native managed version of their well-known firewalling capabilities, with the benefit of integration into the Panorama management framework.”

AvailabilityCloud NGFW for Azure is available in public preview in the following regions: East US, East US 2, Central US, West Europe, East Australia, with additional regions to follow soon.