The Palo Alto Networks PA-5440 is a high-performance, ML-powered next-generation firewall (NGFW) designed to meet the security needs of modern enterprise networks, data centers, and service providers. Built on the robust PAN-OS® platform, it leverages machine learning to detect and prevent never-before-seen threats in real-time, ensuring advanced protection against evolving cyberattacks.
With industry-leading application and user visibility, it inspects all traffic, including encrypted and IoT traffic, without impacting performance. The PA-5440 offers seamless scalability, supporting up to 85 Gbps of throughput and up to 20 million concurrent sessions, making it ideal for high-traffic environments. Its flexible deployment options include SD-WAN integration and support for active/active or active/passive high availability configurations, ensuring consistent performance and reliability.
Key features like inline threat prevention, behavioral analysis, and automated policy recommendations make the PA-5440 an essential tool for securing distributed networks and managing dynamic environments. It simplifies operations through centralized management with Panorama and Strata Cloud Manager, enabling efficient policy enforcement and real-time analytics.
Designed with robust hardware, it includes redundant power supplies, hot-swappable components, and advanced encryption capabilities for IPsec and SSL VPNs. The firewall’s comprehensive routing and NAT capabilities ensure seamless connectivity across IPv4 and IPv6 networks, while its compliance with advanced security protocols provides confidence for regulated industries like healthcare, finance, and education.
Whether deployed in a data center, enterprise campus, or service provider network, the PA-5440 delivers unparalleled performance, reliability, and adaptability. It empowers organizations to adopt Zero Trust security models, protect critical assets, and stay ahead of emerging threats with cloud-delivered security updates. As a future-ready solution, the PA-5440 is the ideal choice for enterprises seeking to optimize their security posture while simplifying network operations.
Overview
The Palo Alto Networks PA-5440 is part of the PA-5400 series of ML-Powered Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs). Designed for high-speed, mission-critical environments, such as data centers, internet gateways, and service provider networks, the PA-5440 delivers robust security capabilities, seamless scalability, and consistent high performance.
Key to its functionality is PAN-OS®, a unified software platform that ensures efficient traffic classification and security policy implementation. This enables businesses to protect their networks against modern threats while reducing incident response times and operational complexity.
Key Highlights:
- World’s First ML-Powered NGFW: Enhanced threat prevention with machine learning embedded in the firewall core.
- Comprehensive Visibility: Monitors all traffic, including encrypted and IoT traffic, without additional hardware.
- Industry Leadership: Recognized in the Gartner Magic Quadrant and Forrester Wave reports for its innovation and performance.
- High Availability: Active/active and active/passive configurations for reliable operation.
- Unified Management: Simplified operations through centralized management with Panorama and Strata Cloud Manager.
Key Features
1. Advanced Threat Detection and Prevention
- Inline ML-Powered Detection: Detects and blocks never-before-seen attacks, such as phishing and file-based malware, in real-time.
- Behavioral Analysis: Identifies IoT devices and recommends automated policies to secure them.
- Cloud-Delivered Security Updates: Ensures zero-delay signatures for emerging threats through cloud integration.
2. Comprehensive Application and User Visibility
- Application-Based Security: Inspects and categorizes applications across all ports, protocols, and encryption methods (SSL/TLS).
- Full Layer 7 Inspection: Analyzes payload data to block malicious files and prevent data exfiltration.
- Dynamic Policies: Automates updates to security policies based on user activity, location, and device type.
3. Flexible Deployment and Networking Capabilities
- SD-WAN Integration: Natively integrates SD-WAN functionality, enabling optimized routing and reduced latency for distributed networks.
- Encrypted Traffic Inspection: Inspects inbound and outbound encrypted traffic, including TLSv1.3, without impacting performance.
- Dynamic NAT Support: Offers static and dynamic NAT, NAT64, and other advanced features for IPv4 and IPv6 networks.
4. Unified Management and AI-Powered Insights
- Strata Cloud Manager: Centralized platform for managing configurations and security policies across all firewall form factors.
- AI-Powered Operations: Real-time compliance checks, predictive analytics for capacity planning, and proactive disruption prevention.
- Policy Optimization: Built-in tools for migrating legacy rules to modern, App-ID-based policies.
5. Robust Hardware and Performance
- High Performance: Firewall throughput up to 85 Gbps, with threat prevention throughput of 70 Gbps and IPsec VPN throughput of 58 Gbps.
- Session Capacity: Supports up to 20 million concurrent sessions and 390,000 new sessions per second.
- Resilient Design: Redundant power supplies, hot-swappable components, and support for 2U rack-mount deployment.
Technical Specifications
Performance Metrics
- Firewall Throughput (AppMix): 85 Gbps.
- Threat Prevention Throughput (AppMix): 70 Gbps.
- IPsec VPN Throughput: 58 Gbps.
- Concurrent Sessions: 20 million.
- New Sessions per Second: 390,000.
Hardware Details
- Interface Options: Includes support for 1G, 10G, 25G, 40G, and 100G Ethernet ports.
- Storage: 480 GB SSD for system storage.
- Power Supply: Dual redundant supplies (630W average, 760W maximum consumption).
- Form Factor: 2U rack-mountable, dimensions of 3.45″ H x 22.5″ D x 17.34″ W.
Environmental Tolerance
- Operating Temperature: 32°F to 122°F (0°C to 50°C).
- Humidity Range: 10% to 90%.
- Altitude: Up to 10,000 ft.
Networking and Connectivity Features
Routing Protocols
- OSPFv2/v3, BGP, RIP, and static routing with policy-based forwarding.
- Multicast protocols: PIM-SM, PIM-SSM, and IGMP (v1, v2, v3).
IPsec and VPN
- IPsec and SSL VPN support with advanced encryption (AES-128/192/256).
- GlobalProtect® Large Scale VPN for secure, remote connectivity.
SD-WAN Functionality
- Monitors path quality based on latency, jitter, and packet loss.
- Ensures optimal routing through built-in metrics and dynamic path selection.
High Availability
- Configurable as active/active or active/passive.
- Supports HA clustering for scalable and resilient network deployments.
Use Cases
Industry-Specific Applications
- Healthcare: Safeguards sensitive patient data and supports compliance with HIPAA regulations.
- Finance: Protects financial transactions, detects fraud, and ensures secure remote work for employees.
- Education: Manages diverse user access while preventing unauthorized data usage.
Application-Specific Use Cases
- IoT Security: Detects unmanaged devices, secures their communication, and prevents vulnerabilities.
- Encrypted Traffic Management: Inspects encrypted traffic for hidden threats without disrupting performance.
Real-World Deployments
- Data Centers: Delivers high throughput and concurrent session capacity for uninterrupted operations.
- Service Providers: Ensures 5G-native security, safeguarding MEC infrastructure and user data.
- Enterprises: Enables Zero Trust frameworks, secure remote work, and seamless application delivery.
Documentation
- Download the PA-5400 Series Datasheet
- Download the PA-5400 Series Next-Gen Firewall Hardware Reference
Conclusion
- Comprehensive Security: The PA-5440 provides advanced ML-driven threat prevention for modern, complex networks.
- Flexible Deployment: Its high performance and robust hardware make it suitable for diverse environments, from data centers to remote offices.
- Scalable and Reliable: Supports millions of concurrent sessions and offers high availability for business continuity.
- Simplified Operations: Unified management tools reduce complexity and operational overhead.
- Future-Ready: With capabilities like IoT security, SD-WAN, and encrypted traffic inspection, the PA-5440 ensures readiness for evolving network demands.