Palo Alto Networks introduces complete Zero Trust network security

Palo Alto Networks has introduced five key innovations to make it easier for customers to adopt Zero Trust across their network security stack.

The new SaaS Security, which is a Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), is natively integrated into the Palo Alto Networks ML-Powered Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW) and keeps pace with the rapid rise of SaaS applications.

The company also introduced advanced URL filtering and DNS security capabilities to help combat emerging threats; a cloud identity engine to help organisations move towards a Zero Trust security posture; and two new hardware firewalls ranging from hyperscale data centers, internet edge and campus segmentation deployments down to the desktop.

"The productivity of a hybrid workforce lies in the ability for users to move freely on and off the campus network and still securely access any applications or data from any device in any location," says Anand Oswal, senior vice president, Firewall as a Platform, Palo Alto Networks.

"Enabling this seamless experience securely is one of the many promises of a Zero Trust architecture," he says.

 "We are making it significantly simpler for companies to adopt complete Zero Trust Network Security.

According to Palo Alto Networks, the introductions of SaaS Security, Advanced URL Filtering, DNS Security, Cloud Identity Engine, and new ML-Powered Firewalls is designed to allow organisations to easily and effectively implement Zero Trust Network Security with four key benefits:

• Secure access to the right applications: The first integrated Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) that allows customers to proactively extend secure access to all SaaS applications.
• Secure access for the right users: The industry's first Cloud Identity Engine allows customers to easily authenticate and authorise their users across enterprise networks, clouds and applications, irrespective of where their identity stores live.
• Enhanced security: The Advanced URL Filtering service offers industry-first prevention of zero-day web attacks with inline machine learning capabilities. The expanded DNS Security capabilities prevent emerging DNS attacks that no other solution protects against.
• Making secure access universally available: These new capabilities are designed to be available on all firewall form factors: hardware, software and cloud-delivered, making safe access universally available, regardless of where users are located. In addition to the existing firewalls, these innovations will run on new ML-Powered Next-Generation Firewall models to enable Zero Trust Network Security across your enterprise — from the smallest branch offices (with the PA-400 Series) to the largest campuses and hyperscale data centers (with the PA-5450 platform).