The process involves acquiring a virtualized version of a next-generation firewall operating system from Palo Alto Networks. This allows users to deploy and manage firewall capabilities within a virtualized environment, such as VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, or cloud platforms like AWS or Azure. The acquisition typically requires a valid support account and access to the Palo Alto Networks customer support portal. An example includes downloading the VM-Series firewall image for deployment on a private cloud infrastructure.
This capability offers several key advantages. It provides flexibility in network security deployment, allowing organizations to extend firewall protection to virtualized workloads and remote locations without the need for dedicated hardware. Its historical context arises from the increasing adoption of virtualization and cloud computing, necessitating security solutions that can operate effectively in these environments. This approach provides scalability and cost-effectiveness, enabling organizations to dynamically adjust security resources based on demand and reduce capital expenditure on physical appliances.
