Palo Alto Networks firewalls are enterprise-grade security infrastructure. Unlike SaaS software where a non-technical buyer can self-onboard, a Palo Alto deployment requires expert configuration to deliver the security it promises. This guide explains what an authorised Palo Alto Networks partner in India provides — and why the partner relationship matters more with this platform than with simpler security products.
What an Authorised Palo Alto Networks Partner Provides
1. Hardware Sizing — The Most Critical Step
Buying the wrong PA-Series model is an expensive mistake that's difficult to reverse. An authorised partner performs a free sizing assessment before any purchase:
What we size against:
- NGFW throughput required — not the hardware's headline throughput (which is measured without security services), but the throughput with App-ID, Threat Prevention, and WildFire active. These services reduce throughput by 30-60% versus the raw firewall number.
- Concurrent sessions — how many simultaneous connections the firewall must track. Underestimating this causes connection drops under peak load.
- SSL decryption overhead — if TLS inspection is required (it should be), this adds significant CPU load. Must be factored into sizing.
- VPN user count — GlobalProtect VPN adds to the session table. Budget concurrent VPN sessions in the sizing.
- HA configuration — if deploying two units in HA, both units must be identical models.
A common sizing error is selecting based on raw NGFW throughput (listed in the datasheet) rather than the real-world throughput under full security services. This leads to an undersized firewall that becomes a bottleneck.
2. Procurement — INR Billing with GST Invoice
- PA-Series hardware procured through Palo Alto Networks' authorised distribution channel
- All pricing in INR — no USD credit card exposure or foreign currency transactions
- GST-compliant tax invoice for every purchase — hardware, subscriptions, support
- Input tax credit claimable on all components
- Subscription registration and activation managed by partner
3. PAN-OS Configuration
A complete PA-Series deployment from Cloudfy includes:
Network configuration:
- Interface assignment and IP addressing
- Security zone design (Untrust, Trust, DMZ, Management, VPN)
- Routing (default route, static routes, OSPF if required)
- NAT policies (outbound PAT, inbound DNAT for server access)
Security policy:
- App-ID rule design — application-specific allow rules replacing legacy port rules
- Default deny policy with full logging
- Emergency exceptions for legacy applications not yet identified by App-ID
Security profiles:
- Antivirus profile attached to all Allow rules
- IPS (Vulnerability Protection) profile — severity levels and actions configured
- Anti-Spyware profile with C2 blocking
- URL Filtering profile — category blocks appropriate to your organisation
- WildFire Analysis profile — all file types forwarded to WildFire cloud
User-ID integration:
- Active Directory User-ID Agent installation and configuration
- AD domain connectivity and event log monitoring
- Verification of user-to-IP mapping in Monitor → Logs
SSL Decryption:
- Certificate deployment for SSL decryption (requires deploying the firewall's CA certificate to all managed endpoints)
- Decryption policy targeting encrypted traffic categories
- Exclusion list for financial institutions and healthcare sites where decryption is inappropriate
4. Subscription Activation
- Threat Prevention activation and verification (IPS, antivirus, anti-spyware updates)
- WildFire subscription activation and verification (check Monitor → WildFire Submissions)
- URL Filtering database sync
- DNS Security activation if included in the deployment
- GlobalProtect licence activation if VPN is required
5. GlobalProtect VPN Setup
If remote access VPN is required:
- GlobalProtect Gateway and Portal configuration
- SSL certificate procurement and installation (production deployments require a CA-signed certificate)
- User authentication integration (Active Directory, RADIUS, SAML)
- Split tunnelling or full tunnel configuration based on your policy
- GlobalProtect agent distribution to end-user devices (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
- Testing and verification with representative remote users
6. Panorama Deployment (Multi-Site)
For organisations with 2 or more firewalls:
- Panorama appliance or VM deployment and configuration
- Device registration and managed device connectivity
- Device Group and Template creation
- Shared policy migration from individual firewalls to Panorama
- Aggregate logging configuration
- Report scheduling for compliance and management review
7. Post-Deployment Support
30-day post-go-live:
- Daily monitoring of WildFire alerts and threat logs
- Policy tuning — addressing false positives or blocked legitimate traffic
- Security profile adjustment based on initial production data
- Training for internal IT team on day-to-day management
Ongoing managed support:
- Quarterly policy review — removing unused rules, tightening overly permissive rules
- Subscription renewal management — tracking and renewing Threat Prevention, WildFire, URL Filtering before expiry
- PAN-OS firmware updates — testing and applying updates
- Security incident response — assistance with firewall configuration during active incidents
Buying Palo Alto Networks Through Cloudfy vs Direct
| Through Cloudfy Systems | Directly from Palo Alto / Distributor | |
|---|---|---|
| Hardware source | Genuine PAN hardware | Genuine PAN hardware |
| Billing | INR + GST invoice | May involve USD or distributor invoice |
| Sizing assessment | Free — included | Not provided |
| PAN-OS configuration | Full deployment included | Self-service |
| User-ID + AD integration | Included | Self-service |
| WildFire activation | Included + verified | Self-service |
| GlobalProtect VPN | Included | Self-service |
| Panorama | Available | Self-service |
| Ongoing support | Available | Palo Alto support portal |
| Subscription renewal tracking | Managed | Manual tracking required |
Full Network Security Stack from One Partner
Cloudfy Systems is an authorised partner for multiple network security vendors:
- Palo Alto Networks — PA-Series NGFW, Prisma, Cortex
- Sophos — XGS Series Firewall, Endpoint, Email Security
- Fortinet — FortiGate NGFW, FortiSwitch, FortiAP
- SonicWall — TZ and NSa Series
Indian organisations evaluating multiple NGFW vendors can get side-by-side proposals from Cloudfy — genuine pricing and technical assessment for each platform — without engaging multiple resellers.
Contact Cloudfy Systems — authorised Palo Alto Networks partner in India for a free PA-Series sizing assessment and same-day INR pricing proposal with GST invoice.