1. What is Palo Alto Networks Firewall?
Answer:
Palo Alto is a Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) offering advanced security features like application-based filtering (App-ID), user identification (User-ID), threat prevention, and sandboxing to protect networks from modern cyber threats.
2. What are the key features of Palo Alto firewalls?
Answer:
App-ID: Identifies applications running on any port.
User-ID: Enforces policies based on user identity.
Content-ID: Scans traffic for malware and vulnerabilities.
Threat Prevention: Stops malicious activities.
SSL/TLS Decryption: Inspects encrypted traffic.
3. What is App-ID in Palo Alto?
Answer:
App-ID is Palo Alto’s signature feature that identifies applications based on their behavior, not just their port. This allows granular application control even if they use non-standard ports.
4. What are Security Zones in Palo Alto?
Answer:
Zones are logical groupings of interfaces. Policies and rules are applied based on zones. Common zones include Trust, Untrust, DMZ, and Outside.
5. What is the difference between Virtual Wire, Layer 2, and Layer 3 modes?
Answer:
Virtual Wire: Transparent mode, no IP addressing required, often used for inline deployments.
Layer 2: Functions as a switch, requires VLAN tagging.
Layer 3: Operates as a router, IP addressing is mandatory for interfaces.
6. What is a Security Policy?
Answer:
A Security Policy defines rules for allowing or denying traffic. Policies are based on:
Source/Destination Zones.
Applications (App-ID).
Users (User-ID).
Services (e.g., HTTP, HTTPS).
7. What is NAT in Palo Alto?
Answer:
Network Address Translation (NAT) in Palo Alto maps private IP addresses to public IP addresses or vice versa. Types include:
Static NAT
Dynamic IP and Port (DIPP)
Hide NAT
8. What is User-ID?
Answer:
User-ID associates users with IP addresses using integration with Active Directory, LDAP, or Captive Portal. It enables user-based policy enforcement.
9. What is Threat Prevention in Palo Alto?
Answer:
Threat Prevention stops known vulnerabilities, viruses, spyware, and malicious websites. It includes:
IPS (Intrusion Prevention System)
Antivirus and Anti-Spyware
URL Filtering
DNS Security
10. What is GlobalProtect?
Answer:
GlobalProtect is Palo Alto’s VPN solution that provides secure access to remote users. It enforces corporate security policies on remote devices.
11. What is Panorama?
Answer:
Panorama is Palo Alto’s centralized management solution. It allows administrators to manage multiple firewalls, monitor traffic, and generate reports from a single interface.