Palo Alto Networks Introduces Cloud Based Application Framework

Palo Alto Networks announced the Palo Alto Networks Application Framework, a cloud-based framework that extends the capabilities of the Palo Alto Next-Generation Security Platform, which will allow customer organizations to rapidly consume and implement a variety of innovative cloud-based security applications from any provider, large or small.

This new framework represents a game-changing evolution of the Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Security Platform, disrupting the consumption model for organizations to rapidly access, evaluate and adopt cutting-edge security technologies with the Palo Alto Networks infrastructure they already have. It will extend the power of the platform to more rapidly achieve automated, consistent and scalable breach prevention capabilities, all delivered from the cloud.

Traditional methods of creating and consuming security products have not kept pace with today’s need for the rapid development and adoption of emerging security innovations for safeguarding organizations’ networks. The modern network defender is challenged with continuously evaluating, deploying and operationalizing the latest security innovations to keep up with the latest adversary tactics. This puts high operational friction on security teams that must constantly manage fragmented workflows, redundant sensor and enforcement infrastructure, and multiple threat intelligence feeds, all resulting in labor-intensive operations that can hamstring their ability to prevent breaches.

The framework introduces a SaaS (software as a service) consumption model, allowing customers to rapidly evaluate and deploy new capabilities via security applications built by Palo Alto Networks, third-party developers, MSSPs, and their own teams to solve a myriad of security challenges and use cases. This new model will leverage existing Palo Alto Networks sensors, customer-specific data stores and security infrastructure, enabling organizations to instantly activate cloud-delivered applications from different providers as security needs change and without deploying or managing additional products.