Prisma Access: Features And Best Alternatives 2023

Prisma Access is a Secure Access Service Edge or SASE technology that allows for network and security to be delivered as a service from the cloud. It is the SSE component of Prisma SASE, a secure access service edge (SASE) solution that converges networking and security in a single offering.

On its own, Prisma Access offers consolidated best-in-class and cloud-delivered ZTNA 2.0 security with the best user experience on a single unified platform.  

As a Cloud service, Prisma Access allows you to avoid the challenges of figuring out what type of hardware to buy by providing scalability. It also minimizes the coverage gaps or inconsistencies associated with distributer organizations.

Overview of Prisma Access

Prisma Access protects the hybrid workforce with superior security while providing exceptional user experiences from a simple, unified security product. Purpose-built in the cloud to secure at cloud scale, it can singlehandedly protect all application traffic with best-in-class capabilities while securing both access and data to dramatically reduce the risk of a data breach.

With a common policy framework and single-pane-of-glass management, Prisma Access secures today’s hybrid workforce without compromising performance, backed by industry-leading SLAs to ensure exceptional user experiences.

Some of its functions include:

Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) 2.0

The platform combines automated app discovery and private app onboarding with superior security. This helps it provide fine-grained, least-privileged access, continuous trust verification, and deep and ongoing security inspection to protect all users, devices, apps, and data everywhere.

Cloud Secure Web Gateway (SWG)

With Prisma Access, you can seamlessly migrate from legacy on-premises and cloud-based proxy solutions to gain online visibility. You also gain control of internet and SaaS app traffic with industry-leading AI/ML-powered security protections.

Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB)

Prisma Access lets you rapidly discover and regain control over all your SaaS applications with integrated Next-Generation CASB. The CASB combines powerful SaaS security posture management, inline and API-based controls, and contextual policies to determine access levels for sensitive information.

Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)

Prisma Access’ FWaaS protects your remote locations from even the most sophisticated threats, providing a full spectrum of security services. This includes advanced threat prevention, advanced URL filtering, DNS security, sandboxing, and more.

Autonomous Digital Experience Management (ADEM)

With Prisma Access, you gain end-to-end visibility and insights across your network traffic. ADEM also lets you experience autonomous remediation. including end-user, and self-serve remediation.

Features of Prisma Access

Prisma Access delivers both networking and security services, which include:

Networking

• SD-WAN—support for Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls and integration with third-party SD-WAN
• VPN—options for connecting users and networks, including IPsec, SSL/IPsec, and clientless VPN
• Zero Trust network access (ZTNA)—access control and threat prevention to protect applications
• Quality of service (QoS)—prioritization of bandwidth for critical applications
• Clean Pipe—outbound internet security for managed service providers

Security

• Firewall as a service (FWaaS)—next-generation firewall security for branch offices and retail locations
• DNS Security—advanced analytics and machine learning to protect against threats in DNS traffic
• Threat Prevention—blocking of exploits, malware, and command-and-control (C2) traffic using threat intelligence
• Cloud secure web gateway (SWG)—blocking of malicious sites using static analysis and machine learning
• Data loss prevention (DLP)—categorize sensitive data and apply policies to control access
• Cloud access security broker (CASB)—governance and data classification to stop threats with in-line and API-based security

Prisma Access for Networks

Many branch offices and retail stores are geographically distributed and lack full-time IT staff, making deployment, management, change control, and hardware refreshes difficult.

Prisma Access can be used to connect remote networks over a standard IPsec connection. It can use any existing router, software-defined wide area networking (SD-WAN) edge device,
or firewall that supports IPsec to secure traffic, protect confidential information, and address data privacy needs. Prisma Access also supports SD-WAN options using Palo Alto Networks
Next-Generation Firewalls as well as third-party vendor products.

Prisma Access for Users

Mobile users need consistent security to access data centers and cloud applications. Remote access VPN falls short because users typically connect to a gateway for access to the data center applications, and then disconnect from the VPN to get better performance (but less security) when accessing cloud and internet applications.

Prisma Access, however, brings protection closer to users so traffic doesn’t have to backhaul to headquarters to reach the cloud. It works together with the GlobalProtect™ app on a user’s
smartphone, tablet, or laptop. The app automatically establishes an IPsec/SSL VPN tunnel to Prisma Access for the enforcement of security policy without the backhaul to headquarters.

With Prisma Access, all users have secure, fast access to all applications in the cloud, on the internet, or in your data center.

The GlobalProtect app also lets you establish access policies based on host information profile (HIP), enabling even more granular security policies tied to device characteristics — such as operating system, patch level, and the presence of required endpoint software — when accessing sensitive applications.

Large populations of users may need to change locations from time to time, as conferences, weather, and natural disasters can strain local infrastructure. Prisma Access monitors these conditions and automatically scales to add capacity in regions that need it.

Service Connections

Service connections connect Prisma Access to your HQ or Data Centre resources. It also leverages IPSec tunnels for secure transport over the internet. 

These are Layer 3 router connections that can accommodate static or dynamic routing and can terminate any IPSec-capable firewall, router, or SD-WAN device. These terminate on a corporate access node on the Prisma Access end of the connection and the service connections are what provide the inbound connectivity to those centrally located resources.

The difference between a Remote Network and a Service Connection is

• Remote Network can do outbound and inbound connectivity
• Whereas Service Connections are only for inbound connectivity

In Service Connection, you can route traffic to Prisma Access to the Internet. 

Prisma Access Management Methods

There are two methods used to manage Prisma Access:

1. The first method is via the Cloud Service plug-in on a Panorama-managed device. If you already use a Palo Alto Network device from Prisma Access’ parent company, you can use the same Panorama with a Cloud Services plug-in to manage your on-premises firewall and Prisma Access through Panorama.
2. The second option is Cloud Manage; this is also a Cloud provider service. If you don’t have Panorama or are new to Palo Alto Networks, this will be the easiest way to get Prisma Access. It can deploy Prisma Access and use Prisma Access service without the need to deploy another on-premises device OR VM (Virtual-Machine) on which you may have to run services.

Palo Alto Prisma Access uses Cortex Data Lake to store logs. Cortex Data Lake stores the logging that happens for any of the actions taken by Prisma Access. You can forward logs to any other device by redirecting the logs from Cortex Data Lake to on-prem device or log server.

Benefits of Using Prisma Access

Provides consistent networking and security

Unlike conventional software-defined perimeter or proxy solutions, Prisma Access provides networking for all applications and consistent security that makes sure the same policies are enforced at all times.

Superior security with ZTNA 2.0

Stops zero-day threats in zero time with built-in AI/ML capabilities. Also combines with least-privileged access, and continuous trust and threat verification to ensure that all users, devices, apps, and data are secure. 

Designed in the Cloud

Prisma Access uses a common cloud-based infrastructure that delivers protection from over 100+ locations around the world in 76 countries. Customers manage their own security policies with their own dedicated cloud instances, which provide isolation of traffic for privacy.

Unified product & management

Dramatically reduce the risk of a data breach with a single unified product that offers single-pane-of-glass management. Also offers consistent policy and shared data for all users and apps.

Provides multiple security services

Lets you use the security capabilities that you need, including advanced threat prevention, web filtering, and sandboxing. Also includes DNS security, credential theft prevention, DLP, and next-generation firewall policies based on user-to-application and host information profiles.

Exceptional user experience

Deliver exceptional user experiences at cloud scale without compromising performance, backed by industry-leading SLAs. 

Prisma Access Pricing Information

Below are the total costs for these different subscription durations. Additional taxes or fees may apply.

Prisma Access Alternatives

Cisco Umbrella

Cisco Umbrella is a cloud-based security service offered by Cisco Systems. It is basically designed to protect users from cybersecurity threats by providing DNS and web-filtering capabilities. It genuinely provides very effective threat protection and it has the capability to protect users from a wide range of cybersecurity threats, including malware, phishing, ransomware, and botnets.

Cisco’s DNS filtering and web security features can help prevent users from accessing malicious and inappropriate websites. It also provides integration with all other Cisco products.

Features:

• Cloud-Based Deployment and Management: As a cloud-based service, Cisco Umbrella offers easy and quick deployment across multiple devices and locations. The centralized cloud management console allows for efficient monitoring and policy enforcement. It has an extensive network of data centers that provides global coverage and low latency DNS solutions, ensuring a smooth user experience and fast response times.
• Integration with Cisco Security Ecosystem: For organizations already using other Cisco products, Cisco Umbrella’s seamless integration enhances the overall security posture and allows for better threat intelligence sharing and response. It makes the whole process seamless and easy.
• OpenDNS Community, Intelligence, and Customizability: Cisco Umbrella benefits from the OpenDNS community. This is where users collectively contribute to a shared intelligence platform, enriching the threat intelligence database. Also, Cisco Umbrella offers advanced security features and allows for custom configurations, catering to specific security needs and policies of different organizations.

Benefits of using Cisco:

• Improve compliance & risk management
• Drive innovation
• Improve business process outcomes
• Create internal/operational efficiencies

• Product functionality and performance
• Breadth of services
• Strong services expertise
• Financial/organizational viability

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (Formerly known as Microsoft Cloud App Security) is a cloud access security broker (CASB) solution offered by Microsoft. It is designed to enhance the security of cloud-based applications and services, providing organizations with visibility, control, and threat protection for their cloud app environments.

Here are some key points to consider:

• Comprehensive Cloud App Security
• Integration with Microsoft 365
• Threat Detection and Protection
• Policy Enforcement and Compliance
• Ease of Deployment and Management
• Threat Intelligence and Machine Learning

It is important to evaluate Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps in the context of your specific organizational needs, cloud app landscape, and existing security infrastructure. Consider conducting a thorough evaluation, including a proof of concept (PoC) or pilot deployment, to determine how well the solution meets your requirements and integrates with your cloud app ecosystem.

Trend Micro InterScan Web Security

Trend Micro InterScan Web Security is a cloud-based solution that protects businesses against web-borne threats such as malware, phishing, and other sorts of attacks. It includes web filtering, anti-malware protection, content inspection, and data loss prevention in order to secure web traffic and prevent data breaches.

As a whole, Trend Micro InterScan Web Security is a strong web security solution that can provide organizations with a high level of protection against web-based threats.

Features of Trend Micro InterScan Web Security:

• Customizable URL filtering: It provides configurable URL filtering criteria, allowing us to enforce web access policies that are tailored to our/your individual needs and requirements. Administrators can tailor regulations based on categories, reputation scores, and other considerations to limit access to specific websites or categories, ensuring that staff follow acceptable usage regulations and lowering the risk of malware infections or data breaches.
• Data loss prevention: It has DLP capabilities that enable enterprises to monitor and track the movement of sensitive data across web protocols. This benefits companies in implementing data protection standards and preventing data breaches.
• Reporting and analytics: This feature enables administrators to obtain insights into web usage patterns, security incidents, and policy breaches. This data assists organizations in making sensible choices identifying potential dangers and optimizing their security posture.

These are just some of the most well-liked features offered by Trend Micro InterScan Web Security.

Benefits of using Trend Micro InterScan Web Security:

• Drives innovation
• Improves business process agility, process outcomes, and compliance and risk management
• Improves supplier and partner relationships, and customer relations/service

• Strong user community and service expertise
• Product roadmap and future vision
• Strong customer focus and consulting relationship
• Product functionality and performance

Censornet CASB

Censornet provides a great platform to manage cloud data security. It makes sure that data is compliant with regulations and ensures it follows various protocols. It also helps make sure that it addresses all safety concerns with cloud apps and safeguards them with malware protection.

Censornet also allows a central solution that provides visibility into the use of cloud services and apps, manage threat better, and even ensures that compliance is met.

Censornet provides the ability to integrate web security with cloud access security to provide a single solution for both. It also helps address data loss by making sure file sharing, uploading, and downloading are all handled. It helps identify threats or attacks on cloud data which helps IT teams detect threats automatically.

Benefits of using Censornet:

• Drive revenue growth
• Enhance decision making
• Improve customer relations/service
• Cost management

• Breadth of services
• Financial/organizational viability
• Strong customer focus

In Conclusion

Prisma Access is a SASE that helps organizations embrace cloud and mobility by providing networking and network security services from the cloud. With a growing number of users, branch offices, data, and services located outside the protection of traditional network security appliances, organizations need a cloud-based infrastructure that converges networking and network security capabilities.

Prisma Access provides consistent security services and access to cloud applications (including public cloud, private cloud, and software as a service), delivered through a common framework for a seamless user experience.

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References

• Palo Alto Networks
• Amazon Marketplace
• Gartner
• Network Interview