The PA-445 is a part of Palo Alto Networks’ PA-400 Series, designed to deliver high-performance network security for branch offices, retail locations, and midsize businesses. It provides enterprise-grade security by leveraging machine learning (ML) to detect and prevent advanced threats. Equipped with a fanless design, centralized management, and cloud-based AI capabilities, the PA-445 ensures secure connectivity and application control.
Key Features
- ML-Powered Next-Generation Firewall: Embedded ML enables detection and prevention of previously unknown threats, blocking malicious file-based and phishing attacks in real-time.
- Advanced Threat Prevention: Integrates with cloud-delivered services for malware detection and advanced URL filtering to proactively secure against exploits, spyware, and command-and-control (C2) attacks.
- Comprehensive App Control: Identifies applications on all ports and protocols, allowing tailored security policies based on application usage.
- Zero Trust Security: Ensures consistent policies regardless of user location, supporting an effective zero-trust model.
- Silent, Compact Design: Ideal for branch locations, with a fanless design for quieter operation and compact desktop form factor.
Technical Specifications
- Performance:
- Firewall throughput (appmix): 2.2 Gbps
- Threat prevention throughput (appmix): 1 Gbps
- VPN throughput (IPSec): 1.6 Gbps
- Max concurrent sessions: 200,000
- New sessions per second: 37,500
- Networking Capabilities:
- Interface modes: Layer 2, Layer 3, tap, virtual wire
- Routing protocols: OSPFv2/v3, BGP, RIP, static routing
- Multicast protocols: PIM-SM, PIM-SSM, IGMPv1-3
- IPv6 support
- VLAN tagging: 4094 tags per device/interface
- Encryption:
- Encryption protocols: AES (128, 192, 256-bit), 3DES
- Authentication: SHA-1, SHA-256, MD5, IKEv1/v2
Networking Features
- SD-WAN Capabilities: Supports SD-WAN for improved network performance and minimized latency, ideal for distributed enterprises.
- PoE Support: Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) ports (up to 60W per port) facilitate deployment of network devices without extra power cabling.
- Centralized Management: Managed through Panorama, offering streamlined control over multiple distributed PA-400 firewalls.
- High Availability: Supports both active/active and active/passive high-availability modes for improved resilience.
Security & Connectivity
- IoT Security: Detects IoT devices automatically, applying tailored policies to secure them.
- Advanced WildFire® Integration: Prevents unknown malware by leveraging a cloud-based detection engine, which operates 180 times faster than competitors.
- Dynamic User Groups: Define user groups to enforce dynamic security actions based on user behavior and risk profile.
- Decryption: Supports SSL/TLS decryption (including TLSv1.3) to inspect encrypted traffic for threats while maintaining compliance with privacy regulations.
Use Cases
Industry-Specific Applications
- Retail: Secures point-of-sale (POS) systems, prevents data exfiltration, and enables centralized control over multiple store locations.
- Healthcare: Protects patient data, enforces compliance with health data regulations, and monitors medical devices for security anomalies.
- Financial Services: Ensures secure financial transactions, monitors for fraud, and maintains regulatory compliance with data protection standards.
- Education: Safeguards online learning platforms and student records, while providing safe internet access with URL filtering.
Other Use Cases
- Remote and Branch Offices: Ideal for branch deployments due to its compact design, low power consumption, and silent operation.
- IoT-Heavy Environments: Detects and applies security policies to a range of IoT devices in real time, protecting vulnerable endpoints.
- Hybrid Work Environments: Provides secure access to corporate resources for remote employees through VPN and identity-based policies.
- Application Control in SaaS Environments: Identifies and manages SaaS applications, ensuring that only approved apps are accessed.
Technical Specifications Overview
- Interfaces:
- RJ-45 Ports: 4 for general use, 4 for PoE
- SFP Ports: 1
- USB Ports: 2
- Console Ports: Micro-USB, RJ-45
- Physical Specs:
- Dimensions: 8.9 x 13 x 1.7 inches
- Weight: 8.71 lbs
- Certifications:
- CB, cTUVus, FCC Class B certified, VCCI Class B
Documentation
- Download the Palo Alto Networks Firewall Overview Datasheet
- Download the Palo Alto Networks PA-400 Series Specification Datasheet
Conclusion
- High-Performance Security: With up to 2.2 Gbps firewall throughput, the PA-445 ensures high-speed secure connections for midsize enterprises.
- Advanced Threat Detection: ML-powered threat prevention provides proactive security against emerging threats.
- Centralized Management: Easily manage multiple firewalls across locations, simplifying operations and enhancing policy consistency.
- Support for SD-WAN: Integrates SD-WAN functionality, ideal for distributed enterprises needing reliable connections.
- Comprehensive Application Control: Full Layer 7 inspection and App-ID-based policies ensure granular control and optimized security across applications.
The PA-445 is ideal for businesses seeking advanced network protection with easy deployment, flexible use cases, and centralized control. Its high performance and integrated threat prevention services make it suitable for a wide range of industries, while its compact form factor and fanless design cater to distributed locations like branch offices and retail stores.