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VM-Series Virtual Next-Generation Firewall - ARM (BYOL)

Palo Alto Networks | PAN-OS 11.1.6-h7

Linux/Unix, Other 11.1.6-h7 - 64-bit Amazon Machine Image (AMI)

Reviews from AWS customer

6 AWS reviews

External reviews

105 reviews
from and

External reviews are not included in the AWS star rating for the product.


    Osama A.

Deep Experience with PaloAlto VM series

  • February 27, 2024
  • Review provided by G2

What do you like best about the product?
The flexibility to upgrade and downgrade the license.
Easy to access through console, SSH, or GUI.
Implementation is much easier by using scripts.
Support is not bad.
I used to deal with PaloAlto daily and troubleshoot from time to time.
Integration with other software is easier depending on the cloud platform.
What do you dislike about the product?
Incompatibility with some cloud platforms.
Customer support is not providing the expected support immediately, we have to wait until we get a senior engineer.
What problems is the product solving and how is that benefiting you?
Ease of installation and scalability of the setup.


    Deja Srivatjanapong

Easy to use, provides more visibility into the traffic, and streamlines security operations

  • February 22, 2024
  • Review from a verified AWS customer

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for inter-VPC traffic segmentation and inspection. I also use it for external interfaces.

How has it helped my organization?

The product gives us the ability to do malware detection and file inspection.

What is most valuable?

The tool provides ease of use for GUI management and deployment. The product provides more visibility into our traffic. It also helps with troubleshooting a bit of high-level next-generation platforms. The auto-update feature of App-ID is valuable. Traffic monitoring, threat monitoring, and dashboards are the most impactful for our network security.

Having visibility and alerts and being able to react to them is valuable. The integration of VM-Series with cloud services has helped us a lot to streamline our security operations. The solution has ease of use. The web interface and the traffic monitoring are more centralized.

What needs improvement?

The cost must be improved. The tool is very costly.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for more than five years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the tool’s stability a nine or ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the tool’s scalability an eight or nine out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support is really good. I rate the technical support a nine or ten out of ten.

How was the initial setup?

We deploy AWS VPC as a virtual appliance, as a security VPC. The initial deployment was moderately easy. It is not complex, though.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I have used Juniper. Palo Alto’s next-generation features are better than Juniper’s.

What other advice do I have?

The cloud service providers are also coming up with similar features. It can get really competitive for Palo Alto. People who want to use the solution must engage the system engineer for the deployment, vetting process, and initial implementation. Overall, I rate the product a nine to ten out of ten.


    Serge Birdi

Successfully detects unauthorized traffic streams

  • February 21, 2024
  • Review provided by PeerSpot

What is our primary use case?

For remote access and securing our perimeter, Palo Alto Networks VM-Series greatly enhances our network security posture. It serves as a primary firewall for enterprise security and ensures secure remote access to our environment. As for traffic handling in our multi-cloud deployment, Palo Alto Networks' solution effectively manages it, delivering on its promises.

What is most valuable?

We've integrated all necessary functions into a single box shop currently. This setup is convenient for those who aren't yet in the cloud and prefer to stick with familiar tools. However, there's now a plethora of cloud-based tools that offer similar functionalities, leading to potential duplication and increased costs. 

In terms of security breaches, the product aids in categorizing and monitoring traffic, allowing for the identification of potentially malicisous or incorrectly formatted applications. While there are often false positives, the product has successfully detected unauthorized traffic streams.

What needs improvement?

I believe that the licensing and overall cost could be more transparent and aligned with how features are utilized, especially considering the duplication of features. 

Sometimes, it's challenging to determine which features to activate or deactivate.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Palo Alto Networks VM-Series for the past 5 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

In terms of stability, it's quite reliable once it's up and running. I'd rate it a 9 out of 10. However, it's not a perfect 10 due to the need for manual intervention, especially during firmware upgrades and certificate management. This aspect isn't as seamless as with cloud-native firewalls.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

As for scalability, it can be scalable if deployed correctly from the start. Regarding usage, the number of users will likely remain consistent, but the deployment of various firewall types may increase. This could include different instances or flavors beyond the Palo Alto VM series, such as cloud-native versions on Azure or from other vendors. 

How are customer service and support?

The support team is quick, knowledgeable, and responsive. They address issues promptly and escalate them efficiently if needed. Overall, we haven't encountered any significant problems.

How was the initial setup?

The performance of the product hasn't been affected, although access depends on the applications and how well traffic is defined. It can be challenging to ensure traffic flows correctly through the firewall if not fully configured initially. However, once operational, there have been no performance issues.
Setting up the Palo Alto Networks VM-Series was complex and required following a detailed list of instructions. Once it's configured, managing it becomes manageable, but it's not as user-friendly as some cloud-native firewalls that offer click-and-deploy functionality. Building it from scratch involves addressing numerous issues and ensuring it's set up resiliently for availability and reliability.We're using scripts to integrate the Palo Alto Networks VM-Series. 

What about the implementation team?

We managed the deployment in-house, which presented some challenges.

As for technical staffing, we aim to reduce the team size needed for deployment, ideally managing it with minimal personnel or even through code automation. Currently, we don't have a dedicated firewall team.

What was our ROI?


What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Regarding pricing, I initially downloaded the product for feature comparison purposes, not specifically due to pricing concerns. However, the current licensing model can be a sore point as we're paying for features we're not fully utilizing. Simplifying the pricing structure would be beneficial, especially given the duplication of services in some cases, leading to increased costs.

What other advice do I have?

I'd rate it a 9, considering it's an industry-leading firewall with excellent support and features. However, as more customers shift to cloud-native solutions, some unique features of the Palo Alto solution may become less relevant. The company may need to offer a more robust and feature-rich solution to remain competitive. Currently, the monolithic nature of the firewall can be challenging to maintain and secure, which could impact its future viability compared to more agile competitors like Cisco.

When considering the Palo Alto Networks VM-Series, organizations need to carefully assess their specific use case and the extent of changes planned for the firewall. It's crucial to determine if all features are necessary and if they are not replicated elsewhere in the infrastructure. For those already operating in a cloud-native environment, leveraging native security features may be more cost-effective, as they are already included in the package. Conversely, organizations accustomed to traditional on-premises setups may prefer a single firewall device for security. Ongoing support and the frequency of changes to be made on the firewall should be factored in, as these can significantly impact the overall cost and effectiveness of the solution.


    PrashanthM

Enables real-time inspection for vendor security

  • February 01, 2024
  • Review provided by PeerSpot

What is our primary use case?

The primary use case for the Palo Alto Networks VM-Series is real-time inspection for vendor security.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Palo Alto Networks VM-Series for three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the stability a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The product has good scalability. We have small to enterprise businesses as our clients for it.

How are customer service and support?

As per premium support licenses, we received 24/7 support services. Apart from that, they join the calls quickly to resolve the issues for distributors' performance.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is easy. We managed and configured it with the help of existing management tools and courses. We deployed it on the cloud and on-premises.

The deployment time depends on specific business requirements and bandwidth. It takes around one to two weeks to migrate and configure for large organizations. For small organizations, it takes one or two days to complete.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The product is costly but provides all essential security features. I rate the pricing a seven out of ten.

What other advice do I have?

VM-Series enhances the security of our virtualized infrastructure. It ensures that every interaction, pre and post-loan processing, undergoes a thorough inspection, leveraging VPN features and comprehensive security protocols. It reviews the data for encryption and decryption before sending it to the server.

By applying Palo Alto's robust security measures, we enhanced the overall security posture of the cloud development process. Generally, it is challenging to scale hardware while increasing the bandwidth. When it comes to VM-Series, it is more scalable than other firewalls.

Certainly, the prevention capabilities can have an impact on bandwidth. Without the imposition of security profiles, the bandwidth can operate at its full capacity, reaching up to 100 Gbps. However, upon introducing security profiles, there may be a slight decrease in bandwidth due to the utilization of a software control plan and software data plan. The data plan involves a parallel processing mechanism, incorporating multi-scan and multi-action functions. While this may introduce a minimal latency, it efficiently prevents threats with lesser bandwidth. The operation efficiency is enhanced after the deployed VM-Series. We can easily fetch all licensing details, including serial numbers.

I rate it a nine out of ten.


    Mitul Rajput

A stable and straightforward solution that provides valuable features and strengthens an organization’s IT posture

  • January 31, 2024
  • Review provided by PeerSpot

What is our primary use case?

We are using the solution for IDS, IPS, and security.

How has it helped my organization?

We need a perimeter firewall to expose anything on the internet. Our inbound and outbound traffic is controlled via Palo Alto. It has multiple features. We have Palo Alto in every location and have a central console where we control all the firewalls.

What is most valuable?

IDS, IPS, web filtering, and URL filtering are valuable features. Palo Alto is a good product. We have become a major reseller of the product. The tool is beneficial to us. The solution strengthens our IT posture.

What needs improvement?

The solution must improve Zero Trust integration and use cases. The Zero Trust solution has limitations.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The stability is good. The vendor communicates about the releases in advance. We keep updating the operating systems based on compliance and security notifications.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability might be an issue for large organizations. The throughput is a challenge. Multiple segregations need to be done. More than 40 customers are using the solution. We don't face challenges in deployment and maintenance.

How are customer service and support?

The support is responsive.

How was the initial setup?

The setup is not complex, but it is not simple. We get everything from Microsoft Marketplace. We buy the license outside Microsoft Marketplace because it is more cost-effective. All our VMs are deployed on the cloud.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The license fee is slightly high. We must choose the right licensing.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Palo Alto’s compatibility and integrations are better than Juniper's. Zscalrer’s Zero Trust solution is better than Palo Alto’s. We recommend Palo Alto over Fortinet, Juniper, or Check Point. Palo Alto is less complicated.

What other advice do I have?

Palo Alto is a straightforward solution. The solution does not have any negative impacts on our organization. Overall, I rate the product a nine or nine and a half out of ten.


    Ahmed_Shalaby

A stable and secure firewall solution that is easy to implement and operate

  • January 18, 2024
  • Review provided by PeerSpot

What is our primary use case?

The solution is used to protect some servers and access their traffic in a virtualization environment.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable features of the solution are its stability, ease of implementation, ease of operation, and security.

What needs improvement?

It is not very easy to scale up the solution.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Palo Alto Networks VM-Series for one year.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

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

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the solution a seven out of ten for scalability.

How are customer service and support?

The solution’s technical support is very good.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

The solution’s initial setup is very easy.

What about the implementation team?

Palo Alto Networks VM-Series can be deployed in a day or two.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The solution is a little bit expensive compared to other vendors.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend the solution to other users because it is a good firewall.

Overall, I rate Palo Alto Networks VM-Series a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Hybrid Cloud


    Monica Gorasia

A stable solution that is complex to work with

  • December 08, 2023
  • Review provided by PeerSpot

What is our primary use case?

We use the product on our Azure network firewalls. 

What needs improvement?

Palo Alto Networks VM-Series is a complex product to work with. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Palo Alto Networks VM-Series is stable. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the solution's scalability a nine out of ten. We have 100 users for the product. 

How are customer service and support?

We encountered quality issues over support. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

The tool's deployment is simple. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Palo Alto Networks VM-Series is an expensive product but the best one in the market. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate the product a ten out of ten. 


    Nasir Akbar

A stable and affordable product that enables organizations to enforce security policies

  • December 04, 2023
  • Review provided by PeerSpot

What is our primary use case?

I have completed ten projects. The solution is used for network security, application control, and enforcement of policies on end-user devices.

What is most valuable?

The solution enables organizations to enforce policies. We can control every endpoint that is connected to the network.

What needs improvement?

The vendor must improve the way it advertises and markets the product.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I did not find any bugs in the tool. However, we'll face some issues if we do not configure it properly.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Almost 25 customers in Riyadh migrated from Juniper to Palo Alto this year. Before buying the product, we must know the number of users who will be using it. We must buy the model that best suits our needs.

How are customer service and support?

Some people do not know how to open a case with the support team. When a customer contacts the support team, the team must help the customer to open a case. After a case is opened, the support team must respond within 15 to 20 minutes. However, the team takes three to four hours to respond. There is no proper support channel to follow up on cases.

How was the initial setup?

Deploying a firewall is not easy until we have a basic knowledge of routing and security. If we have the knowledge, we can find the proper document on the website and do it easily. We should know the basic configuration. The deployment process is user-friendly. We can configure it easily.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The product is cheaper than the on-premise version.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

When compared with FortiGate, Palo Alto has more security products. However, Palo Alto did not publish the security profile for the end-users or partners. They must explain to their end users why they are better than FortiGate.

What other advice do I have?

People considering implementing the product must consider investing in the on-premise solution instead. If someone has a good experience with VMs, I suggest they choose VM, as it is cheaper than on-premises. Overall, I rate the tool a nine out of ten.


    Hendrik-Du Plooy

Stable product with a valuable feature for environment visibility

  • November 17, 2023
  • Review provided by PeerSpot

What is our primary use case?

Our corporate clients use the product to secure cloud environments.

What is most valuable?

Palo Alto Networks VM-Series's most valuable feature is the visibility of the environment.

What needs improvement?

The product's AIOps process needs improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Palo Alto Networks VM-Series for two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the product's stability a ten out of ten.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have 5000 Palo Alto Networks VM-Series users as our clients. I rate its scalability a ten out of ten.

How was the initial setup?

I rate the initial setup process a nine. It takes a few hours to complete.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I rate Palo Alto Networks VM-Series pricing an eight out of ten.

What other advice do I have?

I rate Palo Alto Networks VM-Series a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud


    Nick Rama

A tool with a great support team that is useful for testing purposes of VMs

  • October 19, 2023
  • Review provided by PeerSpot

What is our primary use case?

I use Palo Alto Networks VM-Series for testing purposes of VMs.

What is most valuable?

The main advantage of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series stems from the fact that you can access it with the help of cloud services.

What needs improvement?

With Palo Alto Networks VM-Series, it is hard for me to manage its network configuration part. Regarding Palo Alto Networks VM-Series, I am figuring out whether to use interzone or intrazone networks for the VMs in our company's environment, which is very confusing. The aforementioned aspects of the solution can be considered for improvement.

In the future, whenever I try to onboard Palo Alto Networks VM-Series, it should allow for easy configuration, especially in terms of network connectivity. I want an easier setup and configuration in the product's future releases.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Palo Alto Networks VM-Series for around a year. My company has a partnership with Palo Alto Networks.

How are customer service and support?

The technical support of Palo Alto Networks does reply to the cases or issues I file with the support team. The support is equally good for all the products that fall under Palo Alto Networks. I rate the technical support a nine out of ten.

How would you rate customer service and support?

Positive

How was the initial setup?

I rate the implementation process a six or seven on a scale of one to ten, where one is difficult and ten is easy.

During the implementation process of the product, I faced some issues related to the networking part and connectivity of VMs. I faced issues with how an end user could connect the VMs to a firewall or connect a firewall to VMs, but the same process was easy for me on a physical device firewall.

What other advice do I have?

I am more comfortable with the physical device firewall. I am actually trying to figure out things since I am not very familiar with the VM side of Palo Alto.

I would recommend Palo Alto Networks VM-Series since it is a cheaper product compared to the other tools available in the market. Apart from Palo Alto Networks VM-Series, I usually recommend Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR and Palo Alto Networks Prisma Cloud.

I rate the overall product an eight out of ten.