What do you like best about the product?

What I appreciate most about Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls is their robust and granular control over network traffic. The ability to identify applications, users, and content (App-ID, User-ID, Content-ID) is unparalleled, allowing us to create highly specific security policies that go far beyond simple port and protocol blocking. The threat prevention capabilities, including WildFire for zero-day threat analysis, are top-notch and have significantly improved our security posture. I also find the centralized management interface (PAN-OS itself, and Panorama for larger deployments) relatively intuitive for such a powerful device, making administration and monitoring efficient. The visibility it provides into network activity is crucial for troubleshooting and incident response.

What do you dislike about the product?

The primary downside, for us and many others, is the cost. Palo Alto Networks firewalls are a premium product, and the initial investment plus ongoing subscription and support costs can be substantial, especially for smaller organizations. While powerful, the sheer number of features and configuration options can also present a steep learning curve for new administrators who aren't familiar with the PAN-OS ecosystem. We've also found that some advanced feature licensing can be a bit complex to navigate, and sometimes troubleshooting very specific or niche issues can require deep dives into documentation or support tickets, which, while generally helpful, can take time.

What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?

Palo Alto Networks NGFWs are solving several critical security challenges for our organization. Firstly, they provide robust protection against a wide array of cyber threats, from common malware to sophisticated zero-day attacks, thanks to features like Threat Prevention subscriptions and WildFire. This significantly reduces our risk of breaches and data loss. Secondly, the App-ID feature gives us unparalleled visibility and control over the applications running on our network, allowing us to block unsanctioned or risky apps and enforce granular policies. This has helped us curb shadow IT and improve overall network performance. Thirdly, User-ID integration allows us to tie security policies to actual users and groups rather than just IP addresses, which is essential in our dynamic environment. This has simplified policy management and improved our security posture by ensuring appropriate access levels. The overall benefit is a much stronger, more intelligent security framework that adapts to evolving threats and business needs.