Looking for the best cloud-based provider? Learn how SWG Palo Alto allows you to securely connect to the Internet through a firewall.
Insight on SWG Palo Alto Cloud Security
Palo Alto Cloud Security is a firewall that helps you to secure your cloud-based applications. This appliance provides an easy and secure way to connect to the cloud without compromising on security. Also, the Palo Alto Firewall will allow you access to the Internet through NAT mode.
This includes the exceptions and the virtual private network (VPN) mode. In NAT mode, you will be able to use applications that require neither encryption nor authentication. Also, you will be able to use applications that provide encryption and authentication mechanisms.
The exception mode is a combination of both NAT and VPN modes where you have control over what is allowed or blocked online.
SWG Palo Alto Cloud Security Features
Palo Alto Firewall supports both VMware vCloud and Amazon Web Services. It offers features like:
1. Security: Palo Alto Firewall protects from malicious internal and external attacks. It protects your cloud servers from network-based attacks which are directed at the OS and application level. It is a stateful firewall that allows you to configure security rules at the session level.
You can use the integrated SRX or S series appliance to provide additional security. You can also define virtual firewalls using the Palo Alto Firewall. This feature allows you to create multiple virtual firewalls which will be connected to separate networks.
They will serve as additional security layers for your cloud servers.
2. Security Policies: The firewall allows you to define up to ten security policies per virtual firewall. You can also use these policies with your physical security appliances (i.e., SRX, S series, etc.). Security policies allow you to define the traffic.
It is allowed or blocked on a per-rule basis for each virtual firewall. You can also configure traffic shaping rules for prioritizing the traffic per rule. This is done by specifying bandwidth limits, traffic rates, and burst rates for each rule.
3. Authentication and Encryption: You can configure encryption and authentication methods for the VPN mode. This includes NAT mode separately using the security policy wizard in the GUI of the Palo Alto firewall. So, this wizard will allow you to create up to ten rules per policy and assign them to different users or groups of users.
In VPN mode, you will be able to assign encryption and authentication methods. These are such as IPsec VPN, SSL VPN, SSL Proxy, L2TP/IPSec PSK VPN, and XAuth MAC-based VPN.
Virtual Firewall Solution
The Palo Alto Firewall allows you to create a virtual firewall from one physical appliance. This is by assigning interfaces from a pool of available interfaces from either one of your physical appliances. Also, this includes both of them combined into one virtual firewall.
Once all members of a pool are assigned to a virtual firewall, they are considered inoperable in their original pools. This is until they return to their original pools after they have been released from their current pool. Also, until they have been removed from their current pool permanently through configuration management tools.
These tools include such as WebCONF or CLI commands like the deactivate-pool command in the SSH environment or delete-pool command in TELNET.