Palo Alto Networks Introduces GlobalProtect for Remote Enterprise Security

Unique private cloud-based approach extends next-generation firewall visibility and control to remote endpoints

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Jun 22, 2010, 09:00 ET

SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Palo Alto Networks™, the network security company, today announced GlobalProtect™, a solution that helps enterprises secure remote endpoints with faster performance and easier management. Utilizing a unique approach, the solution extends the same visibility and control of applications, users, and content that Palo Alto Networks customers typically enjoy inside the enterprise network to endpoints outside the network.

Unlike traditional approaches to endpoint security, Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect ties application-, user-, and content-based policies to roaming users through a persistent thin client that can be pre-installed or installed on demand. Similar to a VPN, remote traffic is sent over a secure tunnel. However, unlike typical VPN deployments, which direct traffic to a few geographically centralized gateways, the GlobalProtect client automatically connects to the nearest corporately-managed Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewall deployed at a hub, branch, or in a private cloud. This results in faster throughput, easier management, and better protection.

"The three traditional approaches to endpoint security – client-side software suites, proxies, or full tunnel VPNs – typically have resulted in significant performance impacts, management headaches, or bad user experiences," said Rene Bonvanie, vice president of worldwide marketing at Palo Alto Networks. "Just as we pioneered the next-generation firewall three years ago, we are once again leading the market with GlobalProtect and introducing a new approach to managing and securing remote endpoints while offering security and performance that other firewall vendors cannot match."

More and more applications are moving into the cloud and more and more users are moving off-premise. According to well-known analyst John Pescatore, "The Next Generation Firewall will follow the same pattern – extending to NGFW as a service (or what we used to call 'In the Cloud Firewalling' before the cloud term got ripped away from the Internet carriers) to inject the same firewall policy between the users and the Internet and in between the cloud-based services we consume that used to be inside the data center."(1)

Palo Alto Networks is widely recognized as the only network security vendor with true application visibility and control in the firewall, enabling enterprise IT managers to make informed policy decisions that improve their overall security posture. GlobalProtect reinforces the company's history of innovation by offering enterprise customers solutions that meet their changing security needs.

Pricing and Availability

GlobalProtect will be available in the fourth quarter of 2010 and will initially support Windows-based PCs and laptops. For more information about GlobalProtect, contact your local reseller or visit http://www.paloaltonetworks.com.

About Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks™ is the network security company. Its next-generation firewalls enable unprecedented visibility and granular policy control of applications and content – by user, not just IP address – at up to 10Gbps with no performance degradation. Based on patent-pending App-ID™ technology, Palo Alto Networks firewalls accurately identify and control applications – regardless of port, protocol, evasive tactic or SSL encryption – and scan content to stop threats and prevent data leakage. Enterprises can for the first time embrace Web 2.0 and maintain complete visibility and control, while significantly reducing total cost of ownership through device consolidation. For more information, please visit http://www.paloaltonetworks.com.

Palo Alto Networks, "The Network Security Company," the Palo Alto Networks Logo, App-ID, and GlobalProtect are trademarks of Palo Alto Networks, Inc. in the United States. All other trademarks, trade names or service marks used or mentioned herein belong to their respective owners.

(1) For John Pescatore's full blog post, see: http://blogs.gartner.com/john_pescatore/2010/04/30/the-future-of-the-firewall-hint-the-perimeter-hasnt-and-isnt-going-away-but-it-has-moved/

SOURCE Palo Alto Networks