Palo Alto Networks Enterprise Firewall PA-7080

The Palo Alto Networks PA-7080 is a cutting-edge next-generation firewall (NGFW) designed to deliver unparalleled performance, scalability, and security for enterprise environments. As the flagship of the PA-7000 Series, it combines innovative software with nearly 700 function-specific processors to provide comprehensive threat protection without compromising speed or reliability.

This firewall is purpose-built to secure high-speed networks, making it an ideal solution for data centers, large enterprises, and mission-critical deployments. Its advanced architecture intelligently distributes processing power across networking, security, and management tasks, ensuring consistent and predictable performance even under heavy traffic loads.

With a maximum firewall throughput of 200 Gbps and threat prevention throughput of 100 Gbps, the PA-7080 is engineered to handle the most demanding network environments. It utilizes patented technologies like App-ID™ to identify and control applications, regardless of port or encryption, and WildFire™ to detect and prevent zero-day threats.

The PA-7080 supports identity-based policies through User-ID™ and offers deep SSL decryption capabilities to protect against hidden threats. Comprehensive NAT, IPv6 support, and high availability features ensure seamless integration into existing networks while providing robust redundancy and failover capabilities. Its scalable design allows organizations to expand capacity as needed by simply adding network processing cards (NPCs), offering investment protection and flexibility.

Unified management and licensing simplify operations, reducing administrative overhead while providing predictable costs. The PA-7080 also excels at generating actionable insights with its dedicated Log Processing Card (LPC), which handles high log volumes efficiently without impacting traffic performance.

Designed for industries like healthcare, finance, government, and education, this firewall ensures compliance, protects sensitive data, and maintains operational continuity in diverse use cases. The PA-7080 redefines high-performance network security by blending power, intelligence, and simplicity into a single, unified platform.

Overview

The Palo Alto Networks PA-7080 is a flagship next-generation firewall (NGFW) in the PA-7000 Series, designed to secure large-scale enterprise environments with unmatched speed and scalability.

By combining nearly 700 function-specific processors with intelligent software, the PA-7080 delivers a robust solution for modern network security needs. Its architecture optimally distributes processing power across key security functions, offering powerful protection without compromising performance.

Key highlights:

• Optimized for enterprises, data centers, and high-speed internet gateways.
• Delivers consistent, scalable, and predictable performance across all configurations.
• Centralized management simplifies deployment and ongoing operations.

Features

Comprehensive Application Control

• Identifies all applications on any port, regardless of encryption (SSL, SSH) or evasion methods.
• Uses App-ID™ technology to categorize applications, enabling fine-grained policy controls.
• Provides visibility into unidentified traffic for improved threat analysis and custom App-ID development.

Advanced Threat Prevention

• Detects and blocks known threats, including malware, spyware, and exploits across all ports.
• Identifies unknown threats using the WildFire™ cloud-based threat analysis service.
• Supports features like IPS, antivirus, and anti-spyware for a comprehensive defense.

User-Centric Security Policies

• Enables identity-based policies using User-ID™ technology, integrating with directory services like Active Directory, LDAP, and Citrix.
• Consistently enforces policies for users across multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

Simplified Management

• Unified system for policy management, enabling effortless control across large deployments.
• Licensing costs are system-wide, providing predictable annual cost structures.

Specifications

Performance

• Firewall throughput: 200 Gbps with App-ID enabled.
• Threat prevention throughput: 100 Gbps with full features enabled.
• IPsec VPN throughput: 80 Gbps for secure encrypted traffic.
• Maximum sessions: 80 million, supporting large-scale environments.
• New sessions per second: 1.2 million, ensuring real-time performance during traffic spikes.

Interfaces and Modes

• Supports L2, L3, Tap, and Virtual Wire (transparent) modes for versatile deployment.
• Dynamic address assignment via PPPoE and DHCP.
• Comprehensive NAT support for IPv4 and IPv6, including NAT64 and dynamic IP reservation.

Networking Features

Routing

• Advanced protocols: OSPFv2/v3, BGP, RIP, and static routing with graceful restart support.
• Multicast support: PIM-SM, PIM-SSM, IGMPv1/v2/v3 for efficient traffic distribution.
• Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) for rapid failure detection.

High Availability

• Active/Active and Active/Passive redundancy ensure seamless failover.
• Path and interface monitoring minimize downtime.

IPv6 and VLAN Support

• Full IPv6 compatibility ensures future-proof network integration.
• VLANs: Up to 4,094 tags per device, enabling extensive network segmentation.

Security & Connectivity Features

App-ID™ and SSL Decryption

• Granular application identification allows precise traffic control.
• Inspects encrypted traffic to detect hidden threats, using SSL decryption.

WildFire™ Integration

• Identifies and prevents zero-day malware by analyzing suspicious files in a secure environment.

Content-ID™

• Controls inappropriate content, protects sensitive data, and ensures compliance.
• Reduces risk by enforcing web filtering and preventing unauthorized file transfers.

Architecture Highlights

Scalable Processing Subsystems

1. Network Processing Card (NPC):
   • Up to 67 cores per card dedicated to networking, classification, and threat prevention.
   • Scales linearly up to 200 Gbps by adding more NPCs.
   • Supports 10/40 Gbps connectivity and flexible interface options.
2. Switch Management Card (SMC):
   • Manages control functions using a First Packet Processor (FPP) and high-speed backplane.
   • Ensures load balancing and optimal resource allocation for consistent performance.
3. Log Processing Card (LPC):
   • Manages high log volumes using dual multi-core processors and 2 TB RAID1 storage.
   • Dedicated for logging, freeing up resources for other critical tasks.

High-Speed Backplane

• Operates at 1.2 Tbps, ensuring each NPC has up to 100 Gbps traffic capacity.
• Guarantees linear scalability as processing demands grow.

Technical Specifications

Hardware Details

• Chassis: 19U, rack-mountable, measuring 32.22”H x 19”W x 24.66”D.
• Weight: ~299 lbs for AC and DC versions.
• Power:
  • Input voltage: 90-305Vac or -36 to -75Vdc.
  • Max output: 2500 W per power supply.
• Environment: Operating temperature range of 32°F to 122°F (0°C to 50°C).

Interface Options

• QSFP+, SFP+, and Ethernet interfaces for flexible connectivity.
• Storage: 80 GB SSD system drive with 2 TB RAID1 for log storage.

Use Cases

Industry-Specific Applications

• Healthcare: Secures patient data, ensuring compliance with regulations like HIPAA.
• Finance: Protects financial transactions and sensitive data from advanced threats.
• Government: Delivers high-throughput security for classified information and defense systems.
• Education: Provides secure access to online learning tools and prevents misuse of resources.

Functional Applications

• Data Centers: Handles high traffic volumes with low latency.
• Cloud and Remote Work: Enables secure connectivity for hybrid cloud setups and remote teams.
• Retail: Protects POS systems and customer data against cyber threats.

Real-Life Use Cases

• Defending against advanced persistent threats (APTs) by analyzing encrypted traffic.
• Ensuring compliance by generating detailed logs and audits.
• Maintaining business continuity with seamless failover in Active/Active deployments.

Documentation

• Download the Palo Alto Networks Firewall Overview Datasheet
• Download the Palo Alto Networks PA-7000 Series Specification Datasheet

Conclusion

1. The PA-7080 delivers enterprise-grade security with unmatched throughput and scalability.
2. Advanced features like App-ID and WildFire provide robust protection against known and unknown threats.
3. Scalable architecture ensures investment protection as network demands grow.
4. Simplifies operations with unified management and predictable licensing costs.
5. Tailored for industries and use cases requiring high-performance security without compromising reliability.

This firewall is an ideal choice for organizations looking to future-proof their security posture while handling complex, high-traffic environments efficiently.