The Palo Alto Networks PA-1420 is a cutting-edge ML-powered Next-Generation Firewall designed to secure midsize businesses, branch offices, and distributed enterprise environments. Equipped with PAN-OS, the industry’s most advanced operating system, it leverages machine learning to deliver real-time threat prevention, adaptive security policies, and unparalleled network visibility.
Its ability to classify traffic by application, user, and content ensures robust control over network activity while minimizing the risk of unknown threats. Inline ML capabilities allow the PA-1420 to proactively block file-based attacks, detect phishing attempts, and safeguard IoT devices through behavioral analysis. Advanced networking features, such as SD-WAN support, dynamic routing, and flexible NAT configurations, make it an ideal choice for organizations seeking reliable and secure connectivity.
With a focus on Zero Trust principles, it enables dynamic user group management and consistent enforcement of policies across all devices and locations. The PA-1420 is designed to handle encrypted traffic, including TLS 1.3, providing deep traffic inspection without compromising performance. Its single-pass architecture ensures high throughput, even with multiple security features active, maintaining seamless operations for mission-critical environments.
Centralized management through Panorama simplifies deployment and oversight, enabling streamlined configuration across distributed networks. Additionally, it supports regulatory compliance through detailed logging and forensic capabilities, making it suitable for industries like healthcare, finance, and retail. The PA-1420 exemplifies the future of network security, delivering scalable performance, advanced threat intelligence, and versatile deployment options to meet the evolving demands of modern enterprises.
Overview
The Palo Alto Networks PA-1420 is an advanced ML-Powered Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) tailored for midsize businesses, smaller campus locations, and distributed enterprise branch offices. Powered by the industry-leading PAN-OS software, the PA-1420 integrates machine learning, robust threat prevention, and advanced networking capabilities to provide unparalleled visibility, control, and security across all devices and users.
- Purpose: Designed for secure connectivity and improved security posture in branch office and midsize enterprise settings.
- Core Technology: Leverages the PAN-OS platform, the same software used across Palo Alto’s entire NGFW lineup.
- Security Basis: Classifies traffic by application, user, and content, creating dynamic security policies that adapt to evolving threats.
Key Features
Machine Learning Integration
- Inline Prevention: Utilizes machine learning (ML) at the firewall core for real-time signatureless prevention of file-based attacks.
- Phishing Detection: Automatically detects and halts novel phishing attempts through cloud-based ML processes.
- IoT Security: Employs behavioral analysis to identify IoT devices and suggests appropriate policies.
- Policy Automation: Reduces administrative effort with automated policy recommendations, minimizing human error.
Advanced Threat Protection
- App-ID™ Technology: Identifies applications regardless of port, protocol, or encryption method for comprehensive traffic visibility.
- Cloud-Delivered Updates: Receives instantaneous threat intelligence and signatures via the Palo Alto Networks cloud platform.
- Comprehensive Threat Prevention: Blocks known and unknown threats, including malware, exploits, spyware, and command-and-control (C2) activities.
Enhanced Visibility
- Layer 7 Inspection: Provides deep analysis of network traffic for identifying applications, users, and threats.
- Application Insights: Creates custom and standard reports for SaaS usage and network activity.
- Centralized Management: Manages multiple NGFWs through Panorama, offering a unified interface for configuration and visibility.
Encryption and Decryption
- Encrypted Traffic Inspection: Analyzes inbound and outbound TLS/SSL traffic, including modern protocols like TLS 1.3.
- Decryption Policies: Flexible policies for traffic decryption based on compliance, privacy, and user group needs.
- Decryption Mirroring: Sends decrypted traffic copies to tools for forensic analysis and compliance audits.
Performance Optimization
- Single-Pass Architecture: Processes traffic efficiently by conducting networking, policy lookup, and threat analysis in a single scan.
- Consistent Performance: Maintains predictable throughput even with multiple security subscriptions enabled.
- AIOps Insights: Monitors firewall health and predicts potential disruptions through telemetry-based machine learning.
Networking Features
The PA-1420 combines robust networking capabilities with advanced security features to support modern enterprise needs.
Interface and Modes
- Interface Modes: Supports Layer 2, Layer 3, Tap, and Virtual Wire (transparent mode) configurations.
- Routing Protocols: Offers OSPFv2/v3, BGP, RIP, and static routing options.
- SD-WAN Capabilities: Features path quality measurement (jitter, latency, packet loss) and dynamic path selection.
- IPv6 Support: Comprehensive support for IPv6 in all interface modes.
NAT and VPN
- Network Address Translation (NAT): Includes static, dynamic, and NAT64 capabilities, as well as dynamic IP reservation.
- VPN Support: Offers IPsec with robust encryption (AES, 3DES) and authentication methods (SHA-1, SHA-256, etc.).
High Availability
- Modes: Configurable as Active/Active or Active/Passive for redundancy.
- Failure Detection: Includes path and interface monitoring for proactive fault detection.
Security & Connectivity
The PA-1420 provides comprehensive security and connectivity solutions to meet modern enterprise demands.
User and Application-Centric Security
- Dynamic User Groups (DUGs): Allows real-time adjustments to user-based policies for fast incident response.
- Zero Trust Integration: Enforces consistent policies across all devices and locations.
- MFA Support: Secures applications with network-layer multi-factor authentication without modifying app code.
SaaS and IoT Protection
- SaaS Security: Identifies and secures sanctioned and unsanctioned SaaS applications, supporting the growth of cloud-based environments.
- IoT Device Security: Detects and categorizes unmanaged IoT devices, enabling a Zero Trust approach for networked devices.
Technical Specifications
Performance
- Threat Prevention Throughput: Up to 4.9 Gbps.
- Connections: Supports up to 2 million sessions with high concurrent performance.
- SD-WAN Throughput: Up to 4.2 Gbps for optimized remote connectivity.
Hardware
- Interfaces:
- Eight 1G/2.5G/5G Ethernet ports.
- Eight 1G/10G SFP/SFP+ ports.
- Storage: 240 GB SSD for logging and configuration data.
- Power: Includes a 450W AC power supply with PoE support for connected devices.
- Dimensions: Rack-mountable 1U form factor (17.15” W x 1.70” H x 14.15” D).
Environmental
- Operating Temperature: 0°C to 40°C with high-altitude compatibility (up to 10,000 feet).
- Cooling: Front-to-back airflow for efficient thermal management.
Use Cases
The PA-1420 offers versatile applications tailored to different industries and scenarios.
Industry-Specific
- Retail: Protects point-of-sale (POS) systems and customer payment data from breaches.
- Healthcare: Safeguards sensitive patient records while ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA.
- Finance: Prevents data leaks, secures online banking systems, and blocks phishing attempts.
- Education: Manages internet access for students and blocks inappropriate or harmful content.
Real-Life Applications
- Hybrid Work: Ensures secure access for remote workers by enforcing consistent policies across devices and locations.
- IoT Security: Protects smart devices in industrial, healthcare, and smart building setups.
- SD-WAN Optimization: Delivers secure and low-latency connections for branch offices and distributed teams.
- Compliance: Enables organizations to meet stringent regulatory standards through detailed logging and forensic capabilities.
Documentation
Conclusion
- The PA-1420 provides industry-leading threat prevention powered by machine learning for both known and unknown threats.
- Its comprehensive networking and security features make it ideal for midsize businesses and distributed enterprises.
- Flexible deployment options ensure adaptability across various industries and use cases.
- Centralized management through Panorama simplifies large-scale deployments and ensures visibility across all devices.
- Its robust performance, efficient architecture, and future-proof design make it a reliable choice for evolving enterprise needs.