Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks and Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway are leading network solutions with distinct strengths. Users prefer Prisma Access for its superior security features, despite higher costs, while Azure VPN Gateway is valued for its seamless integration with other Microsoft services and cost-effectiveness.
Features: Prisma Access features robust security protocols, comprehensive threat intelligence, and flexible deployment options. It integrates seamlessly with other Palo Alto security products. Azure VPN Gateway is recognized for its ease of use within the Azure environment, speed, and reliability.
Room for Improvement: Prisma Access users report the need for better documentation, a more streamlined setup process, and additional feature enhancements to stay competitive. Azure VPN Gateway users cite the need for better support for non-Microsoft environments, more advanced security features, and note occasional performance issues under heavy load.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Prisma Access offers a flexible deployment model but can be complex for less experienced users. Customer service is generally well-regarded but could benefit from quicker response times. Azure VPN Gateway is praised for its straightforward deployment within the Azure ecosystem. Customer service support is reliable but sometimes less responsive with complex, non-standard configurations.
Pricing and ROI: Prisma Access commands a higher price, which some users feel is justified by its advanced security capabilities and performance. The ROI is viewed positively among users who prioritize security. Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway is considered more cost-effective, offering good value within the Microsoft ecosystem. Its ROI is seen as favorable, especially for users needing an integrated solution within Azure.
The solution provides significant cost savings, transitioning expenses from CapEx to OpEx.
There is a net positive return on investment
In a recent incident, I had an issue with the SharePoint API. It relates to documentation, specifically the lack of up-to-date documentation because Microsoft is moving away from the traditional SharePoint REST API to Microsoft Graph.
Prioritization of tasks can also be challenging, impacting the timely resolution of problems.
The product is reliable, making customer support less frequently needed.
We rarely need to contact support due to having a strong internal team and a robust product.
The service and technical support quality varies depending on the personnel.
The process was very efficient to scale the solution, which supports a high level of scalability.
Prisma Access provides significant scalability, allowing integration of different systems.
To scale, one would need to upgrade or acquire more hardware.
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks is a cloud-based solution, and from my experience, there are no issues with scalability.
Azure VPN Gateway is very stable due to reliance on Microsoft's own network.
I think the stability of Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks is excellent, and I would rate it ten out of ten.
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks works efficiently during peak usage times.
GlobalProtect is a satisfying solution, and the product is robust without major stability issues.
The instructions on how to integrate P2N and P2S type networks into Azure VPN Gateway could be improved, though it is a constantly evolving process.
Hosting it in the cloud can mitigate these issues by allowing connection through the nearest Palo Alto or Prisma Cloud regional hub.
There is a lack of integration with third-party solutions like CrowdStrike or SentinelOne in Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks.
Sometimes a third-party outage could impact the whole operability.
The price of Azure VPN Gateway should be rated five from a purely invoice aspect.
The pricing is somewhat high but acceptable, considering it replaces the need for physical network equipment, leading to cost savings.
The pricing is on the higher side, rating it around eight to nine out of ten.
From my experience, Palo Alto is more expensive compared to solutions like Netskope and Triscale.
Pricing for Prisma Access and Prisma SD WAN is high due to the need for different hardware flavors like IONs.
It's cost-effective by eliminating the need for firewall and networking equipment purchases.
The primary function of Azure VPN Gateway allows for designing subnets from existing networks, whether they are physical or virtual networks within Azure or other cloud instances.
These features are security-driven, providing robust protection against increasing cyber threats by integrating NG Firewalls, SD WAN, and CASB, all within a fully cloud-native solution.
One of the most valuable features of Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks is the ability to manage on-premise firewalls.
GlobalProtect has been beneficial for its cloud security capabilities, which are vital as businesses seek hybrid options and need to support remote workers while addressing latency issues.
| Product | Market Share (%) |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Azure VPN Gateway | 5.1% |
| Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks | 5.8% |
| Other | 89.1% |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 13 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 2 |
| Large Enterprise | 14 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 23 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 21 |
| Large Enterprise | 27 |
A VPN gateway is a specific type of virtual network gateway that is used to send encrypted traffic between an Azure virtual network and an on-premises location over the public Internet. You can also use a VPN gateway to send encrypted traffic between Azure virtual networks over the Microsoft network. Each virtual network can have only one VPN gateway. However, you can create multiple connections to the same VPN gateway. When you create multiple connections to the same VPN gateway, all VPN tunnels share the available gateway bandwidth.
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks provides consistent security for all users and applications across your remote networks. Prisma Access grants users safe access to the cloud and data center applications and the internet as well. In addition, the solution combines all of your security and networking capabilities into a single cloud-delivered platform, enabling flexible hybrid workforces.
Prisma Access can be managed two ways:
Prisma Access delivers both networking and security services, including:
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks Features
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks has many valuable key features including: App-ID, User-ID, Device-ID, SSL Decryption, Dynamic User Group (DUG) Monitoring, AI/ML-Based Detection, IoT Security, Reporting, URL Filtering, Enterprise Data Loss Prevention (DLP), Digital Experience Monitoring (DEM)*, Logging, Policy Automation, Intrusion Prevention System (IPS), and many more.
Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks Benefits
Some of the benefits of using Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks include:
Reviews from Real Users
Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Microsoft Azure Synapse Analytics
users who are currently using the solution.
PeerSpot user Partha D., Global Network Tech Lead at a computer software company, speaks about his experience using the product, saying, "It protects all app traffic so that users can gain access to all apps. Unlike other solutions that only work from ports 80 and 443, which are predominantly for web traffic, Prisma Access covers all protocols and works on all traffic patterns... The most sophisticated attacks can arise from sources that are not behind 80/443."
Tejas J., a Sr. Cloud Security Architect at a computer software company, mentions that "it is geographically dispersed, and it sits on top of Google and AWS platforms. Therefore, you don't face the standard issues, such as latency or bandwidth issues, that you usually face in the case of on-prem data centers.”
Another PeerSpot reviewer, Max I., Associate Director at Cognizant, comments that "Security is absolutely spot-on, really top-notch. It's the result of all the components that come together, such as the HIP [Host Information Profile] and components like Forcepoint, providing end-user content inspection, and antivirus. It incorporates DLP features and that's fantastic because Prisma Access makes sure that all of the essential prerequisites are in place before a user can log in or can be tunneled into."
We monitor all Enterprise Infrastructure VPN reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.
