PACKETPERF

Primary Device

Palo Alto Networks PA-445
Palo Alto Networks PA-445
★ 3.3 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 2.7 Gbps
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 1.25 Gbps
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 1.1 Gbps
  • Max Sessions: 200,000
  • New Sessions/sec: 34,000
  • Interfaces: 8 x 10/100/1000 RJ45 (4 with PoE), 1 x SFP
  • Form Factor: Desktop (Fanless)

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Integrated PoE (4 ports) for powering branch devices; Fanless, silent operation ideal for office environments; Advanced ML-powered threat prevention for zero-day protection; Dual power supply support for redundancy; Runs full enterprise PAN-OS software.
  • ✘ Cons: High Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) including expensive recurring subscriptions; Steeper learning curve compared to entry-level SMB firewalls; Significant performance impact when full SSL/TLS decryption is enabled.
  • Est. Price: $2,100 - $2,500

Compare Against

Fortinet FortiGate 120G
Fortinet FortiGate 120G
★ 4.4 Value Score

Technical Specifications

  • Firewall Throughput: 39 Gbps
  • Threat Prevention Throughput: 2.8 Gbps
  • IPsec VPN Throughput: 35 Gbps
  • Max Sessions: 3,000,000
  • New Sessions/sec: 140,000
  • Interfaces: 18x GE RJ45 (incl. MGMT/HA), 8x GE SFP, 4x 10GE SFP+
  • Form Factor: 1RU Rack Mount

Curation Review

  • ✔ Pros: Exceptional throughput powered by the new FortiSP5 ASIC; High-density 10GE connectivity for a mid-range appliance; Dual redundant power supplies included; Integrated SD-WAN and ZTNA support.
  • ✘ Cons: High cost of mandatory security subscriptions; FortiOS can have a steep learning curve; Support and licensing can be expensive compared to lower-tier brands.
  • Est. Price: $2,900 - $3,960

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