AWS WAF vs Panorama: What are the differences?

Key Differences between AWS WAF and Panorama

1. Architecture: AWS WAF is a cloud-native web application firewall provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS), while Panorama is a centralized management platform for firewalls offered by Palo Alto Networks. AWS WAF is designed to provide scalable protection for applications hosted on AWS, while Panorama focuses on managing security policies across multiple firewall devices.

2. Deployment: AWS WAF is deployed as a service in the AWS cloud, allowing users to easily integrate it with other AWS services and scale it as needed. On the other hand, Panorama is typically deployed on-premises or in a virtual environment, providing centralized management for Palo Alto Networks firewalls deployed in various locations.

3. Integration: AWS WAF seamlessly integrates with other AWS services such as AWS CloudFront, Application Load Balancer, and Amazon API Gateway, allowing users to protect their applications at the edge or API endpoints. Panorama, on the other hand, integrates with Palo Alto Networks firewalls, providing a unified platform to manage policies, logs, and configurations across multiple firewall devices.

4. Scalability and Flexibility: AWS WAF is designed to scale horizontally and handle high traffic volumes, making it suitable for applications with varying levels of demand. It offers flexible rule sets and can be configured to create custom rules based on specific application requirements. Panorama, on the other hand, provides centralized control and visibility across multiple firewalls, enabling efficient policy management and enforcement.

5. Operating Model: AWS WAF is a fully managed service, which means that AWS takes care of all the infrastructure and maintenance tasks, allowing users to focus on configuring and monitoring the security rules. Panorama, on the other hand, requires users to set up and maintain the management platform themselves, ensuring that the firewalls are properly configured and up to date.

6. Vendor Ecosystem: AWS WAF benefits from the broad AWS ecosystem and marketplace, which offers a wide range of integrations, third-party tools, and services to enhance the overall security posture. Panorama, being a product from Palo Alto Networks, benefits from their extensive security ecosystem and partnerships, providing additional capabilities and integrations specific to their firewall devices.

In Summary, AWS WAF is a cloud-native web application firewall designed for scalable protection in the AWS environment, while Panorama is a centralized management platform for Palo Alto Networks firewalls deployed in various locations, offering unified policy management and control.