Palo Alto's GlobalProtect cloud service secures remote offices and mobile devices

Palo Alto Networks has introduced GlobalProtect cloud service that provides the Palo Alto Networks next-generation security infrastructure as a cloud-based service for remote offices and mobile users.

The GlobalProtect cloud service will enable customers to utilize the preventive capabilities of the Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Security Platform, including application visibility and control, Threat Prevention, URL Filtering, and WildFire threat analysis service, to secure remote networks and mobile users. The new GlobalProtect cloud service offering eliminates the operational hurdles posed by traditional distributed security infrastructure approaches and delivers the preventive capabilities of the Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Security Platform to provide customers with consistent protections needed to prevent successful cyberattacks across globally distributed network and cloud environments. With this new offering, Palo Alto Networks will manage and maintain a multi-tenant, cloud-based security infrastructure.

Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect cloud service offers:

* Scalable log collection via a new logging service that allows customers to collect ever-expanding rates of data from remote locations and users, without needing to plan for local compute and storage.

* Central management through Panorama, providing customers with a single management interface across a diverse physical, virtual and cloud service infrastructure through the Panorama console.

* Improved SaaS security functionality. With the new GlobalProtect cloud service and the Aperture service, customers can now use a comprehensive SaaS security feature set delivered in the cloud without the burden of deploying and scaling physical or virtual appliances for mobile users and remote locations.

* SD-WAN and IPsec technology partner support for large-scale remote location deployments. Customers can connect their remote and edge networks to GlobalProtect cloud service via an on-premise IPsec VPN capable device, or they can utilize one of the technology integration partners that support SD-WAN or IPsec VPN connectivity options.

Initial GlobalProtect cloud service integration partners include Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company; CloudGenix, Nuage Networks from Nokia, VeloCloud, Viptela and VMware. These initial GlobalProtect cloud service technology partners join existing SD-WAN technology partners that have integrated with our next-generation firewall and include Ecessa, Riverbed Technology, Silver Peak Systems and Talari.

Lee Klarich, Executive Vice-President, Product Management, Palo Alto Networks, said, “Today’s organizations require enterprise-class security consistently delivered to all locations, including small branch office and mobile users. Palo Alto Networks is uniquely positioned to deliver the preventive capabilities of our industry-leading platform in the cloud via our new GlobalProtect cloud service offering, providing consistent and scalable security for all locations and users while easing the operational burden shouldered by IT organizations.”

The GlobalProtect cloud service is targeted for general availability in August 2017. GlobalProtect service for remote networks will be licensed according to bandwidth requirements, from 200 Mbps to 100,000 Mbps. GlobalProtect service for mobile users will be licensed per user, from 200 users to over 100,000.