Palo Alto Azure Reference Architecture for Efficient Network Configuration and Security

Palo Alto Networks and Microsoft Azure have collaborated to create a reference architecture that simplifies the deployment of network security and configuration in Azure.

This architecture integrates Azure's networking capabilities with Palo Alto's next-generation firewalls, providing a comprehensive security solution for cloud-based environments.

The reference architecture is designed to be scalable, flexible, and easy to manage, allowing organizations to quickly respond to changing security needs and network configurations.

By leveraging Azure's cloud-based infrastructure and Palo Alto's advanced security features, organizations can reduce the complexity and cost of network security management.

Before deploying the Palo Alto Azure Reference Architecture, it's essential to ensure a smooth and seamless transition. The architecture is designed to be scalable and flexible, allowing for easy integration with existing Azure resources.

Start by reviewing the Azure subscription and resource group setup, as described in the "Azure Subscription and Resource Group" section. This includes creating a new resource group for the Palo Alto VMs and ensuring the correct Azure subscription is used.

The architecture also requires a dedicated subnet for the Palo Alto VMs, which should be created in the Azure Virtual Network (VNet). The "Azure Virtual Network (VNet)" section provides detailed instructions on how to create a VNet and subnet.

Next, configure the Azure Load Balancer (ALB) to distribute traffic to the Palo Alto VMs. The ALB should be created in the same resource group as the Palo Alto VMs, as outlined in the "Azure Load Balancer (ALB)" section.

Finally, review the Palo Alto VM configuration, ensuring the correct image is used and the VM is properly sized for the expected traffic. The "Palo Alto VM Configuration" section provides guidance on selecting the correct image and sizing the VM.

To configure the network on your Palo Alto device in Azure, you'll need to start by configuring the Trust and Untrust interfaces. This involves setting up the IP addresses and subnet configurations for each interface.

For the Untrust interface, you'll need to select the Ethernet link, configure the IP address as a DHCP client or static address, and clear the default route checkbox. You'll also need to ensure that a Network Security Group (NSG) is associated with the Untrust subnet or individual firewall interfaces.

The Trust interface will need to have a profile assigned to it, and the Untrust interface will also require a profile. Additionally, you'll need to define static routes to enable the Palo Alto device to route traffic to the internet and your subnets.

Configuring your network appliance is a crucial step in getting everything up and running. Once the virtual appliance has been deployed, we need to configure the Palo Alto device itself to enable connectivity on our Trust/Untrust interfaces.

You'll need to enable connectivity on these interfaces to ensure smooth communication between different parts of your network. This involves configuring the device to allow traffic to flow between the trusted and untrusted zones.

To do this, you'll need to set up the Trust interface, which is typically connected to your internal network. This will allow devices on your internal network to communicate with the Palo Alto device.

The Untrust interface, on the other hand, is connected to the internet or other external networks. You'll need to configure this interface to allow incoming and outgoing traffic to and from your network.

After configuring the Trust and Untrust interfaces, you'll need to verify that everything is working as expected. This involves checking the device's logs and ensuring that traffic is flowing between the different zones of your network.

To configure the Untrust interface, you'll need to select the Ethernet link for ethernet1/1 and configure it as follows. On the IPv4 tab, choose DHCP Client if you plan to assign only one IP address on the interface, or select Static and manually enter the primary and secondary IP addresses assigned to the interface on the Azure portal.

To find the private IP address of the interface, navigate to Virtual Machines -> YOURPALOMACHINE -> Networking and use the Private IP address specified on each tab. Clear the Automatically create default route to default gateway provided by server check box, and click OK.

Note that within your Azure environment, ensure you have a NSG associated to the untrust subnet or individual firewall interfaces, as the template doesn't deploy this for you. According to Azure Load Balancer's documentation, you will need an NSG associated to the NICs or subnet to allow traffic in from the internet.

Routing and Probes are crucial components of the Palo Alto Azure Reference Architecture. To ensure seamless communication between your Azure Load Balancers and the Palo Alto devices, you'll need to configure health probes and static routes.

You'll need two separate virtual routers, one for the internet and one for your subnets. This is because health probes submitted from each load balancer need to be processed separately.

To create a new virtual router and static route to the internet, follow these steps: Select Network -> Virtual Router, click Add at the bottom, set the Name to Untrust-VR, and then select Static Routes -> IPv4 -> Add. Create a Static Route to egress internet traffic and another to move traffic from the internet to your trusted VR.

Similarly, to create a new virtual router and static route to your Azure Subnets, select Network -> Virtual Router, click Add at the bottom, set the Name to Trust-VR, and then select Static Routes -> IPv4 -> Add. Create a Static Route to send traffic to Azure from your Trusted interface and another to move internet traffic received on Trust to your Untrust Virtual Router.

Azure health probes come from a specific IP address (168.63.129.16), so you'll need to approve TCP probes from this IP address. This involves creating a static route to allow the response back to the load balancer.

Here's a summary of the steps to configure health probes for Azure Load Balancers:

Global routing is another important aspect of routing and probes. Traffic Manager supports multiple traffic-routing methods to deterministically route traffic to the various service endpoints. The performance traffic routing method is a popular choice for many customers.

To set up security policies for Azure Firewall, you'll need to navigate to the Security Policy tab after configuring DNS values. This is where you can set policies for the firewall.

When choosing how to manage your firewall, select the checkbox for Managed By to indicate whether Azure Portal or Palo Alto Networks Panorama is in charge.

To configure local rulestacks, you can either create a new one or use an existing option. If you choose to use an existing option, simply input the name of the existing rulestack.

To activate VM-Series Firewall licenses, you'll need to obtain a license key from your Palo Alto Networks account. This key is required for the firewall to operate.

The license key is tied to the VM-Series Firewall instance and cannot be transferred to another instance. This ensures that your license is only used for the specific firewall you're activating.

You can obtain a license key by logging into your Palo Alto Networks account and navigating to the Licenses page. From there, you can select the VM-Series Firewall instance and generate a license key.

Once you have the license key, you can activate it on the VM-Series Firewall instance by navigating to the Licenses page and entering the key. This will activate the license and enable the firewall to operate.

To set up a security policy, you need to access the Security Policies tab after setting your DNS values. This tab allows you to configure policies for the firewall.

Select the checkbox Managed By to indicate whether Azure Portal or Palo Alto Networks Panorama will manage your security policy. This is a crucial step in defining the scope of your security policy.

You can choose to create a new rulestack or use an existing one by selecting the Create New or Use Existing options in the Choose Local Rulestack section. Input an existing rulestack in the Local Rulestack option if you choose to use an existing one.

To enable best practices for your firewall, select the checkbox Best practice rule. This option allows you to choose between Firewall mode and IDS mode.

Here's a summary of the steps to set up a security policy:

Tags are a great way to organize and categorize your Palo Alto Networks resources in Azure. You can specify custom tags by adding key-value pairs.

To do this, simply select the Tags option. Then, type in the Name and Value properties that you need. The Name property is where you'll enter the name of the tag, and the Value property is where you'll enter the value of the tag.

Here's a breakdown of the properties:

By using custom tags, you can easily identify and manage your resources in Azure.

As you're setting up your Palo Alto Azure reference architecture, it's essential to review your selections carefully.

After navigating to the Review + Create page, all validations are run, so take this opportunity to review all the selections made in the Basics, Networking, and optionally Tags panes.

You can also review the Palo Alto and Azure Marketplace terms and conditions to ensure you're aware of any agreements you're committing to.

To create the Cloud NGFW by Palo Alto Networks, select Create after reviewing all the information.

Once the deployment is complete, you'll want to manage the Palo Alto Networks resource and get started with the Cloud Next-Generation Firewall by Palo Alto Networks - an Azure Native ISV Service on the Azure portal.

Here are the next steps to take:

In a Palo Alto Networks Azure reference architecture, security is a top priority.

The use of Azure Firewall and Azure Network Security Groups (NSGs) helps to filter and control traffic, while Palo Alto Networks VM-Series firewalls provide an additional layer of security and visibility.

To ensure seamless integration with Azure services, the Palo Alto Networks VM-Series firewalls are deployed in a hub-and-spoke topology.

This approach allows for efficient routing and segmentation of traffic, while also enabling the use of Azure Load Balancer and Azure Application Gateway.

The integration of Palo Alto Networks with Azure Monitor and Azure Log Analytics provides real-time visibility and insights into network traffic and security threats.

This integration enables IT teams to quickly identify and respond to security incidents, reducing the risk of data breaches and downtime.