Palo Alto Networks Firewall Essentials: Configuration and Management Training Course

Introduction

• Overview of Palo Alto Networks portfolio and architecture for government use
• Firewall architecture for enhanced security in government networks

Getting Started

• Configuring initial firewall settings to ensure secure deployment
• Configuring management network settings for optimal performance and security
• Activating a firewall to begin securing government networks
• Managing licenses and software updates for continuous protection

Managing Firewall Configurations

• Managing configurations to maintain compliance and operational efficiency
• Viewing and monitoring firewall logs to ensure accountability and traceability

Managing Firewall Administrator Accounts

• Managing firewall authentication and authorization for secure access control
• Creating a local firewall administrator account for government personnel
• Creating a non-local firewall administrator account for remote management
• Creating a firewall administrator account for non-interactive login to support automated processes

Connecting the Firewall to Production Networks

• Blocking threats by using network segmentation to enhance security for government operations
• Using network interfaces and security zones to manage traffic flow effectively
• Layer 3 interfaces and sub-interfaces for granular control over network segments
• Using virtual wire interfaces to simplify network configurations
• Tap interfaces for passive monitoring of network traffic
• Using virtual routers to route traffic efficiently across different networks
• Loopback interfaces for local management and testing purposes

Managing Security Policy Rules

• Creating and managing security policy rules to enforce government security policies
• Creating and managing NAT policy rules to control network address translation
• Controlling application usage using app-ID to ensure compliance with government standards

Blocking Threats

• Blocking threats using security and NAT policies to protect government data
• Blocking packet- and protocol-based attacks to prevent unauthorized access
• Blocking threats from known bad sources to mitigate risks
• Blocking threats by identifying applications to ensure only approved software is used
• Blocking threats by identifying users to enforce user-specific security policies
• Blocking threats by identifying devices to control endpoint security
• Blocking unknown threats using advanced threat detection techniques
• Blocking threats in encrypted traffic to secure sensitive information
• Preventing usage of stolen credentials to protect government systems
• Blocking threats using security profiles for comprehensive protection
• Blocking inappropriate web traffic with URL filtering to maintain a safe browsing environment
• Using decryption to block threats in encrypted traffic and ensure visibility into all network traffic

Threat and Traffic Information

• Locating valuable information using logs and reports for government audits and compliance
• Forwarding threat and traffic information to external services for enhanced threat intelligence sharing

Security Best Practices

Summary and Next Steps