Palo Alto Networks VM-Series is a highly effective advanced threat protection (ATP) solution and firewall that can be hosted on cloud computing technologies designed by many different companies. It decreases the amount of time that it will take administrators to respond to threats. Users that deploy VM-series have 70% less downtime than those who use similar firewalls. Neither protection nor efficiency are concerns when this next-generation firewall is in play.


| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Palo Alto Networks VM-Series | 2.0% |
| Fortinet FortiGate | 17.2% |
| OPNsense | 9.6% |
| Other | 71.2% |
| Type | Title | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category | Firewalls | Apr 13, 2026 | Download |
| Product | Reviews, tips, and advice from real users | Apr 13, 2026 | Download |
| Comparison | Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs Fortinet FortiGate | Apr 13, 2026 | Download |
| Comparison | Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs Netgate pfSense | Apr 13, 2026 | Download |
| Comparison | Palo Alto Networks VM-Series vs Sophos Firewall | Apr 13, 2026 | Download |
| Title | Rating | Mindshare | Recommending | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fortinet FortiGate | 4.2 | 17.2% | 92% | 589 interviewsAdd to research |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | 4.1 | N/A | 95% | 213 interviewsAdd to research |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 28 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 15 |
| Large Enterprise | 19 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 156 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 99 |
| Large Enterprise | 211 |
VM-Series is being deployed to protect both public and private cloud environments. This level of flexibility empowers organizations to run the environment or environments that best meet their needs without worrying that they are going to be exposed to digital threats due to the environment that they choose.
In the public cloud, users of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series can automate their deployment and dynamically scale up their environment while experiencing a consistent level of protection. This dynamic scalability means that they also integrate their security into their DevOps workflows so that their security can keep up with their activities and requirements. Users of private cloud environments can set up security policies that can be automated to be provisioned as the need arises. Organizations don’t need to slow down when they deploy VM-Series because it makes the task of defending them so simple that they can set their defenses and forget that they are even there.
Users gain a deep level of visibility when they deploy Palo Alto Networks VM-Series. App-ID technology enables organizations to see their network traffic on the application level and spot threats that might be trying to sneak in through vulnerable points in their defenses. It also leverages Palo Alto Networks WildFire and advanced threat protection to block the threats before they can escalate.
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Features:
Reviews from Real Users:
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series is a solution that stands out when compared to other similar solutions. Two major advantages that it offers are its ability to protect users without degrading the efficiency with which their networks perform and its centralized management system.
Jason H., the director of information technology at Tavoca Inc, writes, “There is no noticeable trade-off between security and network performance. In fact, so far, we've not seen any negative network performance with it. We're very impressed in that regard.”
An information technology manager at a tech services company says, “We use Palo Alto’s Panorama centralized management system. We have an on-prem firewall where Panorama is very good for pulling logs in from the cloud so we can see what is going on. It gives us visibility into that as well as shows us what attacks are coming in. Palo Alto’s Panorama centralized management system simplifies our security posture based on our requirements. Instead of manually pulling logs, then generating them into readable formats, it gives us the console in a readable format to view.”
Warren Rogers Associates
| Author info | Rating | Review Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Cyber security consultant at L&T Technology Services | 4.5 | I use Palo Alto Networks VM-Series for enhanced cybersecurity. I find its next-gen features, ease of setup, and stability excellent, supported by responsive customer service. Automated threat intelligence integration via APIs would be a valuable improvement. |
| Sr. Network Engineer at a tech services company with 1-10 employees | 3.5 | I extensively use Palo Alto Networks VM-Series, praising its stability, advanced threat protection, and App-IDs. Superior to Fortinet, I recommend it despite its higher price and minor deficiencies, consistently rating it positively. |
| Head of Sales at Omgea Exim Ltd | 4.0 | I find Palo Alto Networks VM-Series easy to deploy and robust, despite its high cost. While VM performance has limitations, its scalability and support are strong. I would recommend it, rating it eight out of ten. |
| Assistant Manager at Aditya Birla Management Corpoartion | 5.0 | I am very satisfied with Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Firewall, appreciating its visibility and integration. While scalable, it needs improved Identity Security Posture Management and quicker implementation for new custom features. Overall, I highly recommend it. |
| Senior Security Consultant at Netsecurity.no | 4.0 | I value Palo Alto Networks VM-Series' DNS security and threat prevention. It's scalable and easy to deploy. Despite its cost and minor bugs, I'm satisfied with its performance, rating it 8/10 overall. |
| General Manager at Tilaknagar Industries Ltd | 4.5 | I use Palo Alto for superior security and fast VPN for my SAP data, finding it stable and scalable. It's a significant upgrade from Sophos, but I believe it needs two-factor authentication to be perfect. |
| Senior Manager Technical Security at Hitachi Systems, Ltd. | 5.0 | We use Palo Alto Networks VM-Series to manage and secure cloud traffic effectively, utilizing features like threat prevention signatures and application filtering. Enhancements are needed in Strata Cloud's deployment and management. A quick return on investment is typically achieved within a week. |
| Senior IT Infrastructure Specialist at contemi | 4.0 | I use Palo Alto Networks VM-Series on AWS for its strong security and GlobalProtect. Though initial setup was challenging, I'm satisfied with its performance and rich features, rating it an eight out of ten. |