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Palo Alto Networks Enterprise Firewall PA-450R

Palo Alto Networks Enterprise Firewall PA-450R

The Palo Alto Networks PA-450R is a cutting-edge, ruggedized firewall designed to bring advanced security capabilities to industrial and defense environments that demand resilience against extreme conditions. Part of the PA-400R Series, this ML-powered Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) secures networks in sectors such as utilities, manufacturing, healthcare, and critical infrastructure where durability and reliability are paramount.

As the world’s first ruggedized ML-powered NGFW, the PA-450R extends Palo Alto Networks’ legacy of innovation, combining high-performance security with an extended temperature operating range. It is certified to stringent standards like IEC 61850-3 and IEEE 1613, ensuring robust performance against vibration, temperature fluctuations, and electromagnetic interference.

Supporting high availability in active/active and active/passive configurations, the PA-450R maintains uninterrupted protection, even in mission-critical setups. The firewall features a fanless, silent design, ideal for noise-sensitive and remote locations, and simplifies mass deployment with Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP). The integration of PAN-OS enables application, content, and user-based security policies, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of security measures.

This firewall leverages machine learning to prevent unknown threats in real time and automates policy adjustments, reducing operational complexity and the risk of human error. With centralized management via Panorama and Strata Cloud Manager, organizations can effortlessly control and optimize security policies across distributed networks. By combining rugged hardware with powerful AI-driven security, the PA-450R ensures both resilience and advanced threat defense for industrial and critical environments.

Overview

  • Ruggedized and Reliable: The PA-450R is a rugged firewall designed to secure networks in extreme environments, such as industrial and defense sectors, utility plants, and manufacturing facilities.
  • High-Performance Security: Delivers advanced threat prevention with machine learning, offering protection against file-based, phishing, and zero-day attacks.
  • Supports Harsh Conditions: Built to withstand high humidity, extreme temperatures, and electromagnetic interference with IP65 rating and IEC 61850-3, IEEE 1613 certifications.

Key Features

  • Rugged Construction: IP65-rated enclosure, fanless design, and silent operation, making it ideal for industrial settings.
  • Advanced Threat Protection: Uses machine learning and cloud-based intelligence to detect and prevent both known and unknown threats.
  • Fail-to-Wire Capability: Ensures continuous data pass-through during power failures.
  • 5G and PoE Support: Integrated 5G interface for primary or backup WAN and Power over Ethernet (PoE) on select ports.
  • Centralized Management: Managed via Panorama and Strata Cloud Manager for unified visibility and configuration across multiple sites.

Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: Up to 3.2 Gbps with application mix.
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 1.7 Gbps, supporting real-time threat blocking.
  • VPN Throughput: 1.7 Gbps, enabling secure remote connections.
  • Max Sessions: 200,000 active sessions, with 48,000 new sessions per second.
  • Compliance: IP65, IEC 61850-3, IEEE 1613 compliant.

Networking Features

  • Integrated 5G Modem: Enables 5G as a backup WAN for uninterrupted connectivity, especially useful in remote or mobile setups.
  • SD-WAN Support: Facilitates secure and optimized WAN management for minimized latency and packet loss.
  • Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP): Simplifies deployment for large-scale or distributed networks.
  • Dual Fail-Open Ports: Provides a pass-through connection during power outages to maintain data flow.

Security & Connectivity Features

  • Machine Learning-Powered: Embeds ML for inline attack prevention, especially against phishing and unknown threats.
  • User-Based Policies: Allows for granular policy management based on user identity, not just IP addresses.
  • IoT Security: Recognizes IoT devices and makes policy recommendations, enabling Zero Trust policies for smart devices.
  • Encrypted Traffic Inspection: Inspects SSL/TLS traffic, allowing control over TLS protocols, cipher suites, and certificates.

Use Cases

  1. Industry-Specific:
    • Manufacturing & Utility Plants: Secures ICS/SCADA systems, mitigating risks in power plants and oil and gas facilities.
    • Defense and Government: Provides high-assurance security for defense networks, compliant with strict standards.
    • Healthcare Facilities: Protects sensitive patient data and medical devices within hospital networks.
  2. Application-Specific:
    • Secure Remote Connectivity: With integrated 5G, offers reliable connectivity for mobile or remote applications.
    • Industrial IoT (IIoT) Protection: Secures IoT networks, ensuring devices are monitored and protected against potential vulnerabilities.
  3. General Use Cases:
    • High-Availability Environments: Ideal for industries that need constant uptime, utilizing active/active or active/passive configurations.
    • Distributed Enterprise Locations: Effective for large organizations needing centralized management across various sites.
    • Legacy Network Replacement: Replaces traditional Layer 4 firewalls with advanced, application-aware protection.

Technical Specifications

  • Interfaces: Eight RJ-45 ports, two SFP/RJ-45 combo ports, four PoE-capable ports.
  • Power Options: DC power with optional redundancy for enhanced reliability.
  • Deployment Options: Wall-mounted, rack-mounted, or flat-surface installation.
  • Operating Temperature: Extended temperature range for harsh environments.

Management and Operations

  • Centralized Management: Managed via Panorama for configuration and policy management, scaling easily with network size.
  • Strata Cloud Manager: AI-powered management tool for real-time security policy analysis, policy updates, and predictive network analytics.
  • Application Command Center (ACC): Provides visibility into traffic, threat, and application trends.

Security Services

  • Advanced Threat Prevention: Inline AI-powered detections to prevent sophisticated zero-day attacks and evasive threats.
  • WildFire Malware Prevention: Proactive malware detection using cloud intelligence.
  • Advanced URL Filtering: Real-time web protection against known and unknown web threats.
  • DNS Security: Prevents command-and-control activity over DNS, safeguarding against data exfiltration.
  • IoT Security: Protects IoT assets with behavior-based policies and visibility.

Documentation

Conclusion

  • Robust Performance in Harsh Environments: Built to endure extreme conditions without compromising on security or functionality.
  • Advanced Threat Protection: ML and AI-powered threat prevention offer robust security for critical infrastructure.
  • Centralized, Scalable Management: Panorama and Strata Cloud Manager streamline policy management across large networks.
  • Integrated 5G for Reliability: 5G connectivity ensures continuous access, essential for remote and mobile deployments.
  • Ideal for Industrial Applications: Meets high standards of reliability and compliance for sectors like utilities, defense, and healthcare.

This summary of the PA-450R’s features and capabilities highlights its strengths as a highly secure, high-performance firewall, particularly suited for industrial and government applications requiring consistent uptime and advanced threat protection.

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