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Prisma Access

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Ease of management
Quality of support
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User industry
  1. Professional services (engineering, legal, consulting, etc.)
  2. Manufacturing
  3. Energy and utilities

What is Prisma Access

Prisma Access is a cloud-delivered security service that provides secure access to internet, SaaS, and private applications for remote users and branch locations. It is used by security and network teams to enforce consistent policy controls such as secure web gateway, cloud access security broker (CASB) functions, and zero trust network access. The service integrates with Palo Alto Networks security management and threat prevention capabilities and is typically deployed as part of a broader SASE/SSE architecture.

pros

Broad SSE feature coverage

Prisma Access combines secure web gateway controls with SaaS visibility and policy enforcement commonly associated with CASB, plus private application access controls aligned to zero trust access patterns. This reduces the need to stitch together multiple point products for web, SaaS, and private app access. It supports common enterprise use cases such as remote user protection, branch internet breakout, and SaaS governance under a unified service.

Enterprise policy and operations

The product is designed for centralized policy definition and consistent enforcement across users and locations. It integrates with Palo Alto Networks management workflows, which can simplify operations for organizations already using that ecosystem. For larger environments, this can help standardize controls, reporting, and change management across distributed access scenarios.

Zero trust access options

Prisma Access supports software-defined perimeter/zero trust-style access to private applications without exposing them directly to the internet. It enables identity- and context-aware access decisions and can be used to reduce reliance on traditional VPN patterns for certain applications. This aligns with common zero trust architecture requirements for least-privilege access and segmented connectivity.

cons

Complexity for smaller teams

The breadth of capabilities can introduce configuration and operational complexity, especially for organizations without dedicated security engineering resources. Deployments often require careful design across identity, routing, policy, and logging to meet requirements. Smaller teams may prefer simpler, more prescriptive platforms with fewer tuning decisions.

Ecosystem and licensing dependence

Organizations may realize the most operational benefit when they standardize on related Palo Alto Networks components and management approaches. This can increase dependency on a single vendor’s tooling and licensing model. Buyers comparing platforms may find that feature parity and total cost depend heavily on which subscriptions and add-ons are selected.

Coverage varies by region

As with many cloud edge security services, user experience and performance depend on the proximity and capacity of service locations and the chosen traffic steering method. Some organizations may need to validate coverage for specific geographies, latency-sensitive applications, or regulated environments. This can require additional testing and design work during evaluation and rollout.

Plan & Pricing

Plan Price Key features & notes
Business Not published on Palo Alto Networks website (quote-only) Base Prisma Access SASE capabilities for Mobile Users and Remote Networks. Supports Local and Worldwide locations; modular add-ons available (DLP, SaaS Security Inline, App Acceleration, etc.). See vendor docs for included services and deployment scope.
Business Premium Not published on Palo Alto Networks website (quote-only) Adds enhanced security services and higher service capacities vs Business. Contact sales for exact feature-to-tier mapping.
ZTNA SIG (ZTNA Secure Internet Gateway) Not published on Palo Alto Networks website (quote-only) ZTNA-focused edition available for Mobile Users; provides ZTNA and SIG capabilities.
Enterprise Not published on Palo Alto Networks website (quote-only) Full-featured edition for global deployments, larger capacity, and expanded license entitlements (e.g., base ZTNA Connectors included). Enterprise customers can access offers like Prisma Browser upgrades and broader PoP coverage.

Notes:

  • Palo Alto Networks does not publish list prices for Prisma Access on its public product pages or documentation; pricing is provided by quote through Palo Alto Networks or authorized partners. See official product and licensing documentation for edition names and licensing models.
  • Licensing models include per-user (Mobile Users) and capacity/bandwidth models for Remote Networks. Recent site-based licensing options allow allocating site bandwidth capacities from 25 Mbps up to 2.5 Gbps per site.
  • Common add-ons (sold separately) include: App Acceleration, Autonomous Digital Experience Management (ADEM), Enterprise DLP (60-day trial available), IoT Security, SaaS Security Inline, ZTNA Connector, CASB-X, and required Strata Logging Service for logging. Trial/evaluation options exist for specific add-ons and some SaaS Security/feature trials.

Seller details

Palo Alto Networks, Inc.
Santa Clara, CA, USA
2005
Public
https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/
https://x.com/PaloAltoNtwks
https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks/

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Cortex Data Lake
Cortex XDR
Palo Alto Networks IoT/OT Security
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR
Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls
Palo Alto Networks Cloud NGFW
Palo Alto Networks VM-Series Virtual Firewall
Palo Alto Networks Panorama
Expanse
Prisma Access Browser
Cortex Cloud
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