Unveiling the Evolution: Cloud NGFW for Azure's 6-Month Journey

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In the fast-paced realm of cloud security, Palo Alto Networks' Cloud NGFW for Azure has not only kept pace but surged ahead over the past six months, solidifying its position as a robust network security solution. Let's dive into the exciting key features and enhancements that have unfolded since the initial release in August 2023.

 

General Availability and Beyond

 

The journey began in August 2023 with Cloud NGFW for Azure reaching general availability. This milestone release brought numerous fixes, expanded regional support (five regions), and crucial enhancements to the pay-as-you-go (PAYG) subscription model. The foundation was laid for a secure, stable, and scalable firewall solution. The culmination of efforts resulted in a more stable and feature-rich firewall solution. Cloud NGFW Credits were introduced to provide the flexibility to use Cloud NGFW for Azure and Cloud NGFW for AWS (in the future) and an even better pricing with a budget-planning-friendly payment approach.

 

Empowering Access for Customer Support Portal and SSO Integration

 

September saw the introduction of Single Sign-On (SSO) integration with the Support Portal account. Organizations could now seamlessly integrate their SSO login flow with their Palo Alto Networks Customer Support Portal account for Cloud NGFW for Azure subscriptions. Additionally, support for public domain email addresses broadened accessibility and simplified access control management.

 

Expanding Horizons and Programmatic Access

 

With the introduction of programmatic access marks a paradigm shift. Users could now create and manage NGFWs and rulestacks using APIs, invoking actions through tools like Terraform, PowerShell, CLI, and Python SDK. Cloud NGFW for Azure expanded its reach in October, adding support for additional Azure regions like US West 2 and North Europe. 

 

Rulestack Enhancement and DNS Security Service

 

Rulestack management received a boost with support for implicit rule deletions, offering greater flexibility in handling unassociated rulestacks. Additionally, Cloud NGFW for Azure integrated support for the Palo Alto Networks DNS Security service, empowering users to protect vNET and vWAN traffic from advanced DNS-based threats.

 

Private Source NAT, Non-RFC 1918 support, and Broader Azure Region Reach

 

Private Source NAT support was introduced, allowing users to create a Private NAT gateway for network address translation. Azure region availability expanded to include North Central United States and Southeast Asia, further diversifying deployment options. To support customers who uses non-RFC1918 IP addresses internally, Cloud NGFW for Azure was refined to empower customers to deploy Cloud NGFW with additional private IP ranges besides those addresses specified in RFC 1918 for vNET and vWAN deployments.

 

Scaling to New Heights

 

The latest release in January 2024 elevates Cloud NGFW for Azure's performance to unprecedented levels. With support for 100Gbps, the firewall can now automatically scale up for both vNET and vWAN deployments. This enhancement signifies a significant leap forward in handling high-throughput scenarios. (TechDocs)

 

With each monthly release, Cloud NGFW for Azure has evolved to meet the dynamic demands of users, offering enhanced features, broader regional support (from five to twenty regions), and improved performance capabilities. Stay tuned for more exciting updates that will undoubtedly elevate your cloud security experience. As Cloud NGFW for Azure continues to set the benchmark for cloud-native firewall solutions, embrace the future with confidence, knowing that Cloud NGFW for Azure is at the forefront of cutting-edge innovations.

 

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