Palo Alto Networks has revealed that its Prisma Access zero trust solution has been awarded provisional authorization from the US Department of Defense (DoD).

According to the company, its solution has achieved Impact Level 5 (IL5) Provisional Authorization (PA), allowing its cloud-delivered security to protect DoD agencies.

Zero trust

“As the DoD modernizes its network, the adoption of cloud infrastructure is on the rise. It has become an urgent mandate to provide users with zero trust access to resources, regardless of their location, to accomplish their missions,” said Lee Klarich, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer, Palo Alto Networks.

“The IL5 PA for Prisma Access can provide the DoD with consistent, best-in-class security and least-privileged access to controlled unclassified information (CUI), designated mission-critical information and National Security Systems (NSS) information.”

Palo Alto Networks say that IL5 is the highest unclassified level of authorization for DoD agencies.

Prisma Access

Palo Alto Networks says that Prisma Access offers:

• Protection for all applications and data: secure access to all privileged data across web and non-web-based traffic, reducing the risk of data breaches
• Complete security for multiple use cases: with Prisma Access, agencies can enforce zero trust access, enabling users to connect — securely and conditionally — to any application, including sanctioned cloud apps and mission data, through a single centralized service
• Optimized user experience: a massively scalable service, offering an unmatched digital experience that is directly connected to the DoD Information Network (DoDIN) and its authorized clouds, providing ultralow latency backed by industry-leading SLAs
• Maximize existing security investments: agencies using Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) can leverage their existing security policies in Prisma Access and manage the service with the same familiar, centralized management system

A proven solution

“With the DoD IL5 PA, Prisma Access can help the DoD modernize its infrastructure and achieve consistent zero trust outcomes for users, devices, networks and applications. It offers a proven solution that contributes to meeting the DoD’s rigorous zero trust requirements and guidelines for adopting a zero trust architecture, powered by ZTNA 2.0,” the company said in a statement.

SJA insight

The solution from Palo Alto Networks is purpose-built for cloud-enabled DoD agencies. According to the company, this will consolidate multiple point products into a single integrated service, reducing complexity while increasing organizational agility at the same time.

Zero trust has been a part of a growing conversation among the cybersecurity industry. Rather than having access to every aspect of a network, it means that organizations can be more selective with who is able to read or see certain information. For the DoD, which is a huge organization, it will provide tightened security.