The customer's question focuses on how Palo Alto Networks Strata Hardware Firewalls maintain throughput performance as more Cloud-Delivered Security Services (CDSS) subscriptions-such as Threat Prevention, URL Filtering, WildFire, DNS Security, and others-are enabled. Unlike traditional firewalls where enabling additional security features often degrades performance, Palo Alto Networks leverages its unique architecture to minimize this impact. The systems engineer (SE) should explain two key concepts-Parallel Processing andSingle Pass Architecture-which are foundational to the firewall's ability to sustain throughput. Below is a detailed explanation, verified against Palo Alto Networks documentation.
Step 1: Understanding Cloud-Delivered Security Services (CDSS) and Performance Concerns CDSS subscriptions enhance the Strata Hardware Firewall's capabilities by integrating cloud-based threat intelligence and advanced security features into PAN-OS. Examples include:
* Threat Prevention: Blocks exploits, malware, and command-and-control traffic.
* WildFire: Analyzes unknown files in the cloud for malware detection.
* URL Filtering: Categorizes and controls web traffic.
Traditionally, enabling such services on other firewalls increases processing overhead, as each feature requires separate packet scans or additional hardware resources, leading to latency and throughput loss. Palo Alto Networks claims consistent performance due to its innovative design, rooted in theSingle Pass Parallel Processing (SP3)architecture.