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Palo Alto Networks

Layer7 Networking × Palo Alto Networks

Diamond Partner. Technical Partner of the Year. South Africa's deepest Palo Alto practice.

Palo Alto Networks Platform

Palo Alto Networks is a leading global cybersecurity company offering a tightly integrated, cloud-delivered security platform that protects organisations across networks, clouds, endpoints, and applications. Through its core product lines — Strata, Prisma, and Cortex — Palo Alto enables a prevention-first approach, using AI, machine learning, and threat intelligence to secure the modern digital enterprise.

Strata — Network Security Platform

Strata is Palo Alto Networks' comprehensive network security suite that secures enterprise, branch, data centre, and remote user access.

Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW)

  • Layer 7 traffic inspection with App-ID, User-ID, and Content-ID.
  • Hardware, virtual, container, and cloud-native form factors.
  • Inline Advanced Threat Prevention, DNS Security, URL Filtering, and WildFire Sandbox.

Panorama (Centralised Management)

  • Centralised configuration, policy management, visibility, and reporting.
  • Supports on-prem and multi-cloud environments.

Prisma Access (SASE)

  • Cloud-delivered secure access for branch offices and mobile users.
  • Combines SD-WAN, ZTNA 2.0, CASB, FWaaS, and SWG.
  • Consistent policy enforcement for users everywhere.

Cloud Delivered Security Services (CDSS)

  • WildFire: Cloud-based sandboxing for zero-day malware detection.
  • Advanced Threat Prevention: Inline protection against C2, exploits, and malware.
  • IoT Security: Device fingerprinting and anomaly detection for unmanaged devices.
  • DNS Security: Detects and blocks DNS-based threats.
  • Enterprise DLP: Unified data loss prevention across the platform.

Prisma — Cloud Native Security

Prisma is Palo Alto Networks' Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP). It secures cloud infrastructure, workloads, code, and data across the application lifecycle.

Prisma Cloud

  • CSPM: Detects misconfigurations, enforces compliance (CIS, HIPAA, PCI-DSS).
  • CWPP: Secures VMs, containers, and Kubernetes at runtime.
  • CIEM: Identity and permissions management in multi-cloud.
  • IaC Scanning: Detects misconfigurations before deployment.
  • WAAS: Protects against OWASP Top 10 and API abuse.

Prisma SaaS

  • Inline and API-based CASB.
  • Monitors sanctioned and unsanctioned SaaS usage.
  • Prevents data leakage and malware propagation.

Prisma SD-WAN

  • Cloud-delivered SD-WAN with application-aware routing.
  • Integrated into Prisma Access for complete SASE delivery.

Cortex — Security Operations Platform

Cortex is Palo Alto Networks' suite for automating, investigating, detecting, and responding to advanced threats across the enterprise.

Cortex XDR

  • Extended Detection and Response correlating endpoints, firewalls, cloud, and third-party data.
  • Behavioural analytics and threat intelligence for multi-vector attack detection.
  • Automated response and host isolation.

Cortex XSOAR

  • Security Orchestration, Automation & Response.
  • Hundreds of integrations and playbooks for incident response.
  • Case management and analyst collaboration.

Cortex Xpanse

  • Attack Surface Management — discovers and monitors internet-facing assets.
  • Identifies misconfigurations, exposures, and shadow IT.

Cortex XSIAM

  • AI-driven Autonomous SOC platform.
  • Combines SIEM, SOAR, XDR, and threat intel in one platform.
  • Automates detection, triage, and response at machine speed.

Platform-Wide Capabilities

  • Zero Trust Security: Least privilege, segmentation, continuous validation across all users, devices, and workloads.
  • Machine Learning & AI: Powers threat detection, anomaly detection, and predictive prevention.
  • Unit 42 Threat Intelligence: World-class threat research powering all platform signatures and classifications.
  • Cortex Data Lake: Unified data lake for security analytics across on-prem and cloud.
  • Extensive Ecosystem: Open APIs, integrations with Splunk, Elastic, ServiceNow, and more.

Strategic Differentiators

  • Complete Platform: Single vendor for network, cloud, and SOC security.
  • AI-Native: Machine-speed detection and response with XSIAM.
  • SASE Leadership: Recognised leader in Secure Access Service Edge.
  • Rapid Innovation: Acquisitions (Demisto, Bridgecrew, Expanse, Cider Security) expanding capabilities.
  • Global Threat Coverage: Telemetry from 80,000+ customers worldwide.

Why Layer7 Chose Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks is Layer7's crown jewel partnership — and has been for over a decade. We are a Diamond Partner, the highest tier in Palo Alto's NextWave programme, and have been recognised as Technical Partner of the Year multiple times.

The strategic rationale is straightforward: Palo Alto Networks delivers the most complete security platform in the market. A single vendor providing best-in-class network security (Strata), cloud security (Prisma), and security operations (Cortex) means our clients get integrated protection without the complexity of multi-vendor orchestration. When a firewall alert correlates automatically with endpoint telemetry and cloud workload data in the same platform, mean time to detect drops from hours to seconds.

Layer7 holds NextWave specialisations in Cortex XDR, XSOAR, XMDR MSSP, Hardware Firewall, and Software Firewall. These specialisations aren't just badges — they represent validated engineering depth across the full Palo Alto stack, from physical appliance deployment to autonomous SOC operations.

How Layer7 Delivers Palo Alto Networks

Next-Generation Firewall Deployment

Architecture design, hardware sizing, policy migration, and deployment of PA-Series firewalls. From single-site deployments to multi-data-centre active/active configurations with Panorama management.

Panorama & Centralised Management

Panorama architecture design, device group hierarchy, template stack configuration, and log collector deployment. We build management planes that scale to hundreds of firewalls across multiple regions.

Prisma Access Rollout

SASE architecture design, GlobalProtect migration to Prisma Access, security policy translation, and user onboarding. Remote workforce security without the complexity of traditional VPN infrastructure.

Cortex XDR & XSIAM Implementation

Agent deployment, detection rule tuning, automated response playbook development, and SOC integration. We build detection and response capabilities that operate at machine speed — not analyst speed.

Migration from Legacy Firewalls

Policy translation, rule optimisation, and staged migration from Check Point, Cisco ASA/Firepower, Fortinet, SonicWall, and Sophos to Palo Alto Networks. Zero-downtime cutovers with rollback plans.

Managed Firewall Services

24/7 monitoring, policy change management, firmware lifecycle management, and security posture reporting for Palo Alto estates. Delivered through Layer7's Firewall Assurance Centre.

Talk to Us About Palo Alto Networks

South Africa's most experienced Palo Alto Diamond Partner.

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