VM-Series Virtual Firewall Reviews & Product Details

ease upgrade process and scaling agile, hybride and multi -could , threat prevention , wildfire, prisma cloud , panorama , cortex XDR , redlock , filtrgae Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The biggest downsides are the cost and complexity. It's an expensive product, both in licensing and the cloud computing power it needs. It's also notoriously complex to master, often requiring dedicated, trained staff to get the most out of it, which adds to the total cost. You're trading top-tier security for a hefty price tag and a steep learning curve. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It does not require any physical hardware which could lead to better SLA level and uptime availability. It also does not require rack space and does not draw any power. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I think the subscription fee is on the high side and you need them to enable the full security features of Palo alto firewall. Without the subscription, it is just a plain box. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The most helpful aspect of the VM-Series is its flexibility in virtualized environments. It allows us to enforce consistent security policies across multiple cloud and on-premises instances, giving strong visibility into traffic and applications. Automated threat detection and AI-driven alerts help us respond to incidents faster, reducing the time spent on manual monitoring. The integration with our existing cloud infrastructure has also simplified management and improved overall efficiency. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The initial deployment can be complex, especially when scaling across multiple virtual networks. Fine-tuning policies and integrating with other monitoring tools took longer than expected, requiring extra training for the team. Pricing can become significant as the number of virtual instances grows. While the firewall is powerful, the documentation could be more user-friendly for first-time administrators. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like most about Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Virtual Firewall is the consistency it brings between on-premises and cloud security. The same App-ID, User-ID and Threat Prevention capabilities available on physical firewalls are preserved in virtualized and cloud environments. This makes it easier to enforce uniform security policies, reduce operational complexity, and integrate with centralized management. Its deep application awareness, strong threat intelligence, and cloud-native deployment models enable strong security controls without sacrificing visibility or control in dynamic cloud architectures. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One of the main downsides of Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Virtual Firewall is its cost and licensing complexity, which can be challenging, especially in highly large-scale cloud environments. Additionally, performance tuning and sizing require careful planning, as improper instance selection can lead to unexpected throughput limitations. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I really appreciate the ease of configuration provided by the Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Virtual Firewall. The user interface and experience (UI/UX) make it very straightforward and intuitive for someone like me to configure and manage the firewall effectively. This seamless interface significantly aids in deploying the firewall into our infrastructure without much hassle. Additionally, the support from Palo Alto Networks during deployment was invaluable, allowing us to implement the firewall quickly and efficiently. The integration into our network was smooth, enhancing our productivity by enabling us to perform large configurations and then focus our efforts on other tasks. Overall, this firewall is incredibly efficient and productive, ensuring we're able to perform our security functions effectively as a team. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I feel that the integration of more AI capabilities into the Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Virtual Firewall could significantly elevate its functionality. Although there are current functions that touch on this, a more comprehensive AI integration would enhance the ability to analyze incoming logs and automatically generate a visual representation of the network's status. This would be incredibly beneficial for quickly understanding what's happening within the network and for generating management and board reports without needing to manually interpret raw data or logs. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like that the VM-Series offers strong security features such as advanced application and user identification, along with effective threat prevention including malware and zero-day attack detection. Its ability to provide detailed visibility and control over network traffic in virtual and cloud environments is a major advantage. The firewall’s flexibility to deploy across different cloud platforms and virtual infrastructures makes it very adaptable to various environments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

The main downsides are the relatively high licensing and subscription costs, which can add up over time. There is also a steep learning curve for teams new to the platform, making setup and optimization complex. Performance can be limited by the host environment, especially under heavy traffic or with many security features enabled. Additionally, some users find the interface less responsive and troubleshooting can be challenging in complex deployments. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What i like best about Palo Alto Network VM- Series Virtual Firewall is that it is easy to implement and use. The interface in place its so interactive hence one is able to manage and create policies across the cloud and virtual environments. The integration with third parties application for instance AWS , Azure makes is more viable in deployment in hybrid setups. The customer support is very reliable in managing the tickets raised with no delay which helps me having to use it all the time whenever i face any challenges. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What i dislike about VM-Series is that it is complex to setup ,configure and manage it especially for new users and performance depends on the size of the cloud. However it is still used the licensing is expensive making it impossible for smaller teams with limited resources. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I like best about Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Virtual Firewall is:

Consistent NGFW security across on-prem and cloud

App-ID, User-ID, and Threat Prevention for deep visibility and control

Strong cloud and automation support (AWS, Azure, GCP, Terraform, APIs)

Centralized management with Panorama Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What I dislike about Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Virtual Firewall:

High cost, especially with licenses and subscriptions

Complex initial setup for new users

Resource-intensive (needs strong CPU/RAM for good performance)

Throughput depends heavily on cloud instance sizing

Advanced features require multiple licenses Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

I like the fact that VM series firewall delivers the same full enterprise-grade security functionality as appliance-based solutions, but with instant deployment, avoiding the challenges of international shipping and customs clearance in East Africa, especially Ethiopia. It requires no rack space and also offers flexibility to scale with our country’s dynamic economy, because it allows you to start small and expand as needed. Its intuitive, easy-to-learn GUI is also one of my favorite features. Overall, it’s the best security solution you can get without the logistical headaches Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

One of the things I dislike is the complex licensing model, which can be difficult for some of our customers, along with the high product price and mandatory annual subscriptions. For a country with a weaker economy like ours, securing foreign currency (USD/forex) for these payments is a major challenge. Related to this, the VM series sometimes lags when applying configurations, even after allocating significant resources, which can be frustrating. Another major challenge for Palo Alto in general is the lack of a true local presence. There is a demand for these solutions in Africa, and I would like to see Palo Alto engage more actively in East Africa, especially Ethiopia. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

It seamlessly integrates with cloud environments, offering consistent protection across hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructures. The VM-Series provides robust threat prevention, deep traffic inspection, and granular application control without compromising performance. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Additionally, the initial learning curve and complexity of the platform can be challenging for teams new to Palo Alto’s ecosystem. Improved documentation or more simplified setup guides could help speed up deployment for some users. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.