Palo Alto Networks PA-Series Reviews

Name: Palo Alto Networks PA-Series
Brand: Palo Alto Networks
Rating: 4.3 (33 reviews)

4.3 out of 5

33 reviews
100% willing to recommend

What is Palo Alto Networks PA-Series?

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is essential for firewall implementation, perimeter defense, securing infrastructure boundaries, web filtering, VPN, and threat prevention. Organizations deploy it for secure cloud connections, internet security, and managing network devices.

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Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is the #14 ranked solution in best firewalls. PeerSpot users give Palo Alto Networks PA-Series an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is most commonly compared to Fortinet FortiGate: Palo Alto Networks PA-Series vs Fortinet FortiGate. Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 49% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 16% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series

June 2025

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Featured Palo Alto Networks PA-Series reviews

Deminda Dilan

Senior Network Engineer at Just In Time Group (Sri Lanka)

The URL filtering and antivirus capabilities are great. Users can also create custom applications and mold them as needed. We've done QOS configurations for specific traffic, prioritizing or deprioritizing certain applications like YouTube. We also configure GlobalProtect for remote VPN clients, and some customers even require access to the company network through GlobalProtect. I've also worked with Wildfire, URL filtering, antivirus, file blocking, QOS, and VPN. Recently, I configured a VPN with Azure. Palo Alto has predefined applications that you can control at the application level. You can manage policies and specifically mention which applications to control. If you need to configure a custom application that's not already in Palo Alto's database, you can create one. Sometimes an application doesn't come pre-defined, so you need to create a custom application using signatures or packet captures.

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Bilal Mustafa

Operations Specialist - MX Operations at Bank Alfalah Limited

The most effective features of the solution are its Magic Quadrant positioning, making it a leading firewall on perimeter areas and internet edges. It functions very well in data centers. Its effectiveness is highly dependent on budget and approach. Moreover, the return on investment is calculated according to my organization’s sizing and has never been an issue.

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Hamed-Wasel

IT Senior Network Security Engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

When I compare the tool with other firewalls, it’s the most powerful. It's the most powerful security engine. All the traffic going to the Internet passes through it as the first layer of protection. Because of its good performance, we also use it for decryption. The product's most useful function is its performance. I also appreciate the ability to create rules as groups and apply filters to each group. Each application has its own rules, which can be combined using a group, which is very effective. Additionally, we use Palo Alto Networks PA-Series for decryption, applying encryption policies on the firewall. The encryption policy works for all traffic going to the Internet. We integrated it with Active Directory, specifically with our three or five Active Directory servers. This integration works well for user analysis and policy authentication. The tool is rated high in Gartner reports.

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Palo Alto Networks PA-Series mindshare

As of June 2025, the mindshare of Palo Alto Networks PA-Series in the Firewalls category stands at 0.6%, up from 0.1% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Firewalls

PeerResearch reports based on Palo Alto Networks PA-Series reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Firewalls	Jun 23, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Jun 23, 2025	Download
Comparison	Palo Alto Networks PA-Series vs Netgate pfSense	Jun 23, 2025	Download
Comparison	Palo Alto Networks PA-Series vs Fortinet FortiGate	Jun 23, 2025	Download
Comparison	Palo Alto Networks PA-Series vs OPNsense	Jun 23, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Fortinet FortiGate	4.2	21.4%	90%	364 interviews Add to research
Netgate pfSense	4.3	12.7%	93%	217 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series excels in stability and ease of use. Notable features include App-ID, URL filtering, robust security controls, and integration with various systems. The GUI simplifies management, and comprehensive logging aids troubleshooting. WildFire, GlobalProtect VPN, and quick deployment enhance network protection. Its performance, customization, threat prevention, and application-based policy enforcement set it apart, with seamless integration and user-friendly monitoring tools that further strengthen its position as a leading firewall.

"The best features of the Palo Alto Networks PA-Series firewall include Global protector VPN workings, and content filtering is easy to manage and operate."
"The most valuable feature of Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is that it is highly customizable."
"I rate the stability as ten out of ten."

Room for Improvement

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series could enhance its user interface for better usability and simplify configuration processes. Support services need improvement, particularly regarding faster response times and problem resolution. The pricing model is often seen as expensive and could benefit from greater flexibility. There is a need for advanced threat detection and additional security features, especially for virtual environments. Frequent updates might be perceived as necessary but can be disruptive. Integrating artificial intelligence and an improved web application firewall feature would be beneficial.

"There are no AI integrations in the Palo Alto Networks PA-Series firewall. I would like to see something in the future, but as of now, it is not required."
"The initial setup of Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is very complicated."
"The support has been shaky. Initially, it took one or two hours to get a Palo Alto engineer, which is quite slow. I expect faster response times."

ROI

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series delivers ROI by lowering profile costs and integrating advanced features typically found in separate security devices. Organizations save by not needing additional devices for updated security. Security can be managed at the application and user levels. Multiprocessing enhances performance, though some models can be slow. Benefits become noticeable within three to five years. The PA-Series is cost-effective over time, with some devices proving effective for nearly a decade.

Pricing

Enterprise buyers report that Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is generally perceived as expensive compared to competitors like Fortinet and Cisco. It offers licensing options bundled with essential features, which can lower costs by 40% compared to purchasing individual licenses. Entry-level models start around $1,300, while high-end models can reach several hundred thousand dollars. Although costly, many value the comprehensive support and reliable performance, often considering the investment worthwhile for enhanced security and advanced features.

"The solution's pricing is high compared to that of Cisco and Fortinet."
"With Palo Alto, even when you enable all the modules, it still provides the exact throughput they advertise."
"The pricing is fair."

Popular Use Cases

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is primarily utilized for network protection, acting as a firewall to secure internet connections and infrastructure boundaries. It enables VPN connections, secures AWS environments, and provides features such as threat prevention, URL filtering, and application control. Organizations use it for perimeter defense, secure remote access, and to fulfill security compliance requirements in various environments, including cloud setups. Clients appreciate its user-friendly interface and efficient management capabilities.

Service and Support

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series customer service is generally well-regarded, with satisfactory assistance, yet some users experience slow connection and resolution times. Many appreciate the frequent training updates, quick responses, and effective handling of complex issues. Some highlight RMA cases getting resolved efficiently, rating support highly. Others express difficulty in reaching support, desiring faster responses. Mixed experiences with ticket handling, yet many satisfy with support and rate it highly.

Deployment

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series's initial setup varies in complexity. Some find it straightforward and quick, especially with prior experience or resources like their documentation. Others face challenges, noting a learning curve, particularly if migrating from other systems like Juniper. Many appreciate its user-friendly interface and free configuration tools but warn about complexity in certain network environments. Expertise and proper planning are crucial for a smoother process.

Scalability

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series receives varied feedback on its scalability. Users appreciate its high-end models for handling extensive demands and note the importance of choosing the right model. Its performance can sometimes require model upgrades, especially in dynamic environments. Several organizations find it effective for businesses of varying sizes, with some reporting limited scalability in certain models. Adoption levels vary, with some users highlighting ease of scalability through cloud deployment.

Stability

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is described as highly stable, with most users rating its stability between 8 and 10 out of 10. Many report no issues over several years of use. Some mention frequent updates as a minor concern, yet it remains more stable than other firewalls. Reliability is emphasized through features like high availability. Some users suggest waiting for vetted releases for stability reassurance.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Palo Alto Networks PA-Series Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

Review data by company size

By reviewers

By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Manufacturing Company

12%

Comms Service Provider

University

Government

Healthcare Company

Educational Organization

Construction Company

Financial Services Firm

Non Profit

Retailer

Media Company

Performing Arts

Insurance Company

Hospitality Company

Legal Firm

Wholesaler/Distributor

Energy/Utilities Company

Outsourcing Company

Real Estate/Law Firm

Renewables & Environment Company

Logistics Company

Compare Palo Alto Networks PA-Series with alternative products

Learn more about Palo Alto Networks PA-Series

Companies trust Palo Alto Networks PA-Series to protect corporate networks from external threats, control traffic between networks, and meet regulatory compliance. Integrating well with applications, it offers centralized management and advanced security features such as IDS, IPS, and GlobalProtect. It ensures stable performance, application-based policy enforcement, and decryption of SSL traffic while providing efficient resource usage and comprehensive logging.

What are the key features?

Stability: Reliable performance for continuous protection.
App-ID: Application-based policy enforcement.
URL Filtering: Prevents access to malicious websites.
Security Controls: Comprehensive threat prevention mechanisms.
User-Friendly Interface: Simplifies management and operations.
Efficient Resource Usage: Optimized for minimal resource consumption.
Reporting: Detailed logs and analytics for better insights.
Antivirus: Protects against malware and viruses.
WildFire: Advanced threat prevention with machine learning AI.
Protocol Anomaly Detection: Identifies unusual network behavior.
SSL Decryption: Ensures secure traffic inspection.
Encryption: Safeguards sensitive data.
VPN Capabilities: Secure remote access for users.
Active Directory Integration: Streamlines user authentication.
Quality of Service (QoS): Manages network traffic efficiently.

What benefits should be evaluated?

Enhanced Security: Superior threat prevention and detection.
Centralized Management: Streamlined control of network devices.
Regulatory Compliance: Assists in meeting legal requirements.
Operational Efficiency: Reduced resource usage and downtime.
Comprehensive Reporting: Complete visibility into network activities.
Scalability: Adapts to growing network demands.
User Accessibility: Simplifies secure access for remote employees.

Palo Alto Networks PA-Series is implemented across industries like healthcare, finance, retail, and manufacturing. In healthcare, it ensures patient data protection and compliance with HIPAA. Financial institutions utilize it to secure transactions and meet regulatory standards. Retailers benefit from protecting customer information and securing online payments. Manufacturing companies deploy it to safeguard intellectual property and control plant floor operations.