Palo Alto Networks from Policy to Code. Automate PAN-OS security policies with Python precision

Nikolay Matveev, Migara Ekanayake

Palo Alto Networks firewalls are the gold standard in enterprise security, but managing them manually often leads to endless configurations, error-prone changes, and difficulty maintaining consistency across deployments.Written by cybersecurity experts with deep Palo Alto Networks experience, this book shows you how to transform firewall management with automation, using a code-driven approach that bridges the gap between powerful technology and practical implementation.You’ll start with next-gen firewall fundamentals before advancing to designing enterprise-grade security policies, applying threat prevention profiles, URL filtering, TLS decryption, and application controls to build a complete policy framework. Unlike other resources that focus on theory or vendor documentation, this hands-on guide covers best practices and real-world strategies. You’ll learn how to automate policy deployment using Python and PAN-OS APIs, structure firewall configurations as code, and integrate firewalls with IT workflows and infrastructure-as-code tools.By the end of the book, you’ll be able to design, automate, test, and migrate firewall policies with confidence, gaining practical experience in quality assurance techniques, pilot testing, debugging, and phased cutovers—all while maintaining security and minimizing business impact.