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Xpertex

Palo Alto Prisma Access

Prisma Access is a cloud-based security service that provides organizations with secure access to applications and data from anywhere. It offers advanced security features like threat prevention, URL filtering, and encryption to protect against cyber threats.

Features

  • Cloud-based security
  • Secure remote access
  • Threat prevention
  • URL filtering
  • Advanced encryption
  • Zero-trust network security
  • Cloud-delivered firewall
  • Global scalability
  • Application segmentation
  • Centralized management and visibility

Benefits

  • Improved security posture
  • Enhanced remote workforce productivity
  • Simplified network infrastructure
  • Reduced complexity and operational costs
  • Scalability for business growth
  • Protection against advanced cyber threats
  • Seamless user experience
  • Elimination of backhauling traffic
  • Centralized policy management and visibility
  • Compliance with regulatory requirements

Pricing

£100 a user

  • Free trial available

Service documents

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at louise.carter@xpertex.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.

Framework

G-Cloud 14

Service ID

7 6 8 9 3 8 9 7 5 6 3 0 1 3 7

Contact

Xpertex Louise Carter
Telephone: 08450341412
Email: louise.carter@xpertex.com

Service scope

Software add-on or extension
No
Cloud deployment model
  • Public cloud
  • Private cloud
  • Hybrid cloud
Service constraints
1.Prisma Access relies on a stable and reliable internet connection for proper functionality.
2. It may have compatibility limitations with certain legacy systems or software.
3. Implementing and maintaining Prisma Access may involve additional expenses for licensing, infrastructure, and ongoing support.
4. Configuration and setup: Proper configuration and setup require technical expertise and time investment.
5. User training: Organizations may need to provide training to employees for effective and secure use of the service.
6. Availability and coverage of Prisma Access may vary based on geographical locations.
7. Organizations using Prisma Access rely on the service provider's infrastructure and support.
System requirements
  • Supported devices - laptops, desktops, mobile devices, IoT devices.
  • Compatible Operating Systems - Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android.
  • Stable and reliable internet connection for Prisma Access
  • Compatible web browsers like Chrome,Firefox, Edge, and Safari.
  • Network infrastructure to support connectivity to Prisma Access
  • VPN client software for secure remote access.

User support

Email or online ticketing support
Email or online ticketing
Support response times
24x7x365 Support
Priority 1 (Critical) - < 1 Hour
Priority 2 (High) - 2 Hours
Priority 3 (Medium) - 4 Hours
Priority 4 (Low) - 8 Business Hours
Support Service Level Agreements (SLA) are identical for Monday to Friday and Weekends/Public Holidays
User can manage status and priority of support tickets
Yes
Online ticketing support accessibility
WCAG 2.1 A
Phone support
Yes
Phone support availability
24 hours, 7 days a week
Web chat support
Web chat
Web chat support availability
9 to 5 (UK time), 7 days a week
Web chat support accessibility standard
WCAG 2.1 A
Web chat accessibility testing
The opportunity for us to work with assittive technology users has not yet arisen.
Onsite support
Yes, at extra cost
Support levels
Palo Alto Networks offers three support levels: Standard, Premium, and Elite. The Standard level provides 8x5 access to technical support, software updates, and hardware replacement. The Premium level offers 24x7 access to technical support, along with additional features such as designated support engineers and proactive monitoring. The Elite level includes all Premium features, as well as faster response times and personalized support services. Each level is designed to meet varying customer needs and service level requirements.
Support available to third parties
Yes

Onboarding and offboarding

Getting started
Palo Alto Networks assists users in starting to use Prisma Access through comprehensive documentation, technical support, training programs, and professional services. They provide step-by-step guides for setup and configuration, offer assistance and troubleshooting, educate users through training resources, and offer consulting services for a smooth deployment. Additionally, they foster a user community for collaboration and knowledge sharing. These efforts ensure that users have the necessary resources and support to effectively implement and utilize Prisma Access.
Service documentation
Yes
Documentation formats
  • HTML
  • PDF
  • Other
Other documentation formats
  • Online Help
  • Knowledge Base Articles
  • Video Tutorials
  • Interactive Demos
  • Webinars
  • Whitepapers
  • API Documentation
  • Configuration Guides
  • Case Studies
  • Release Notes
End-of-contract data extraction
When a Prisma Access contract ends, users have different options to extract their data and ensure a smooth transition. Here are some steps users can take:

1. Data Backup: Before the contract ends, it is crucial to perform a comprehensive data backup. This includes saving any configuration files, security policies, user profiles, and other relevant data associated with Prisma Access.

2. Export Logs and Reports: Users should extract logs, reports, and any other relevant data generated by Prisma Access during the contract period. This information can be essential for compliance, auditing, or historical analysis purposes.

3. Data Migration: If users plan to transition to a different solution or platform, they should explore data migration options. This may involve exporting and converting configurations, policies, and user data to a format compatible with the new platform.

4. Vendor Assistance
End-of-contract process
"At the end of a Prisma Access contract, the services provided by Prisma Access will cease. The contract will reach its agreed-upon end date, and the customer will no longer have access to the Prisma Access platform and its associated features and benefits. The customer will need to make alternative arrangements for their network security needs.

Prior to the contract end date, the customer and the service provider may engage in discussions regarding contract renewal. If both parties agree, they may negotiate new terms and conditions for a renewed contract. If no agreement is reached, the contract will terminate as scheduled.

During the contract termination process, the customer may be required to complete certain tasks. These tasks may include retrieving any data or information stored within the Prisma Access system, ensuring that critical information is not lost. The customer will need to transition to an alternative solution or provider for their network security requirements.

It is important for the customer to review the contract terms and conditions to understand the specific obligations and requirements at the end of the Prisma Access contract. Each contract may have its own provisions and procedures for termination or renewal."

Using the service

Web browser interface
Yes
Supported browsers
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Firefox
  • Chrome
  • Safari
  • Opera
Application to install
Yes
Compatible operating systems
  • Android
  • IOS
  • Linux or Unix
  • MacOS
  • Windows
  • Windows Phone
Designed for use on mobile devices
Yes
Differences between the mobile and desktop service
None.
Service interface
Yes
User support accessibility
None or don’t know
Description of service interface
The service interface for Prisma Access is primarily accessed and managed through the Strata Cloud Management console, which is a web-based interface. The management console provides a centralized platform for administrators to configure and monitor the Prisma Access service. Through this interface, administrators can manage security policies, view logs and analytics, configure user access, and perform other administrative tasks related to the Prisma Access service.
Accessibility standards
None or don’t know
Description of accessibility
The secure web console is accessible via apps.paloaltonetworks.com or the stack can be accessed directly based on location of the tenant such as app.uk.prismacloud.io

IP Whitelisting can be utilised to restrict access to the management web interface.
Accessibility testing
The full VPAT / WCAG report can be provided on request.
API
Yes
What users can and can't do using the API
With Prisma Access APIs, users can programmatically interact with and automate various aspects of the Prisma Access service:
1. Configuration Management: Users can use APIs to automate the configuration of various settings and policies within the Prisma Access service. This includes managing network and security policies, user access controls, and other configuration parameters.

2. User Provisioning and Authentication: APIs allow users to programmatically onboard and provision users, manage user roles and permissions, and authenticate users accessing the Prisma Access service.

3. Reporting and Analytics: Users can leverage APIs to retrieve logs, statistics, and other data related to network traffic, security events, and user activity. This enables custom reporting, analysis, and integration with third-party tools.

4. Integration with Security Ecosystem: Prisma Access APIs enable integration with other security solutions and services. Users can integrate Prisma Access with SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems, threat intelligence platforms, or custom security workflows to enhance their overall security posture.

5. Monitoring and Alerting: APIs allow users to monitor the health and performance of the Prisma Access service by retrieving real-time status, metrics, and alerts. This helps in proactive monitoring and incident response.

Users can refer to the official Prisma Access API documentation.
API documentation
Yes
API documentation formats
HTML
API sandbox or test environment
No
Customisation available
Yes
Description of customisation
Users can customise the Prisma Cloud service in several different ways. This includes custom policies, custom attack paths, customisable UI which includes dashboards and colour scheme. The customisation Yes, users can customize the Prisma Access service to align with their specific requirements. They can define and customize security policies, user access controls, network segmentation, and integrate it with their existing security ecosystem. Additionally, users can customize reporting and analytics to generate insights based on their unique needs. It's important to note that the extent of customization may vary based on the specific features and licensing agreement. Users should refer to the documentation provided by Palo Alto Networks for detailed information on customization options and limitations. based on the users role, where a system admin has the ability to customise all of areas mentioned

Scaling

Independence of resources
Prisma Access utilizes a distributed architecture and scalable infrastructure to ensure that users are not affected by the demand placed by other users on the service. It dynamically allocates resources based on demand to maintain optimal performance and availability. Load balancing techniques are employed to distribute traffic evenly across multiple servers and data centers. Additionally, Prisma Access leverages advanced traffic management and prioritization mechanisms to ensure that critical applications and users receive the necessary resources and are not negatively impacted by other users' activities.

Analytics

Service usage metrics
Yes
Metrics types
1. User activity and behavior monitoring.
2. Application usage and performance tracking.
3. Network bandwidth consumption analysis.
4. Threat detection and prevention metrics.
5. VPN tunnel utilization and performance monitoring.
6. User authentication and access control metrics.
7. Firewall rule effectiveness and usage metrics.
8. Web filtering and content inspection statistics.
9. Incident response and security incident metrics.
10. Compliance and regulatory reporting metrics.
Reporting types
  • API access
  • Real-time dashboards
  • Regular reports

Resellers

Supplier type
Reseller providing extra features and support
Organisation whose services are being resold
Palo Alto Networks

Staff security

Staff security clearance
Other security clearance
Government security clearance
Up to Developed Vetting (DV)

Asset protection

Knowledge of data storage and processing locations
Yes
Data storage and processing locations
  • United Kingdom
  • European Economic Area (EEA)
User control over data storage and processing locations
Yes
Datacentre security standards
Complies with a recognised standard (for example CSA CCM version 3.0)
Penetration testing frequency
At least every 6 months
Penetration testing approach
In-house
Protecting data at rest
  • Physical access control, complying with CSA CCM v3.0
  • Physical access control, complying with SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
  • Physical access control, complying with another standard
  • Encryption of all physical media
  • Scale, obfuscating techniques, or data storage sharding
  • Other
Other data at rest protection approach
Service are supplied from Google and Amazon Data centers (further information to follow)
Google Security statement
https://cloud.google.com/security/overview/
https://cloud.google.com/security/

AWS Security Statement
https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/data-center/controls/
https://d1.awsstatic.com/whitepapers/aws-security-whitepaper
https://aws.amazon.com/compliance/data-center/data-centers/

All logs are stored in the Cortex data lake, user activity is monitored and stored in the Cortex data lake for the agreed retention period.
Data sanitisation process
Yes
Data sanitisation type
  • Explicit overwriting of storage before reallocation
  • Deleted data can’t be directly accessed
Equipment disposal approach
Complying with a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v.30, CAS (Sanitisation) or ISO/IEC 27001

Data importing and exporting

Data export approach
Users can export data from Prisma Access by logging into the management console, navigating to the desired data section, selecting the export format (e.g., CSV, PDF, JSON), specifying any parameters, and initiating the export process. Upon completion, users can download the exported file or receive a download link via email. Specific steps and options may vary, so it's advisable to consult the official documentation or Palo Alto Networks support for detailed instructions based on the specific setup.
Data export formats
  • CSV
  • Other
Other data export formats
  • PDF
  • JSON
Data import formats
  • CSV
  • Other
Other data import formats
  • XML
  • JSON

Data-in-transit protection

Data protection between buyer and supplier networks
  • Private network or public sector network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Other
Other protection between networks
Overall, Prisma Access combines segmentation, firewall controls, encryption, and advanced threat detection mechanisms to safeguard data within our network, reducing the risk of data breaches and ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the information.
Leverages threat intelligence and machine learning algorithms to identify and mitigate potential security risks. It actively monitors network traffic, analyses patterns, and identifies anomalies or suspicious behaviour, enabling proactive threat prevention and response.
Robust encryption protocols ensures that even if unauthorised access occurs, the data remains unintelligible and protected from prying eyes.
Advanced firewall capabilities to monitor and control the traffic within the network.
Data protection within supplier network
  • TLS (version 1.2 or above)
  • IPsec or TLS VPN gateway
  • Other
Other protection within supplier network
Prisma Access protects data within the network through segmentation, advanced firewall controls, encryption, and threat detection. Segmentation isolates network parts to prevent threats from spreading. Advanced firewalls monitor and control traffic with intrusion prevention and deep packet inspection. Robust encryption secures data at rest and in transit. Threat intelligence and machine learning identify and mitigate risks. Prisma Access actively monitors traffic, detects anomalies, and responds to threats. These measures reduce the risk of data breaches, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity within the network.

Availability and resilience

Guaranteed availability
Palo Alto Networks aims to maintain at least 99.99% availability for Prisma Access. If this commitment is not met, customers may be eligible for a service credit. Monthly uptime availability is calculated by subtracting the percentage of downtime, excluding planned or emergency outages. To claim a service credit, customers must open a case within 24 hours of an outage and submit a claim within 5 business days. Palo Alto Networks will promptly review the claim within 15 days after determining the root cause and closing the case.
Approach to resilience
Prisma Access is designed with built-in resiliency to ensure continuous and reliable network security. It employs several key mechanisms to enhance its resilience.

Firstly, Prisma Access utilises a global network of Points of Presence (PoPs) strategically distributed across different regions. This distributed architecture enables load balancing and automatic failover, ensuring uninterrupted service even in the event of a localised failure.

Secondly, Prisma Access incorporates redundant components and multiple layers of fault tolerance. This includes redundant hardware, network connections, and power supplies, minimising the impact of hardware failures and ensuring high availability.

Thirdly, Prisma Access leverages dynamic routing protocols and intelligent traffic management algorithms. These mechanisms allow for efficient rerouting of traffic in the event of network congestion or failure, optimising performance and maintaining connectivity.

Moreover, Prisma Access employs proactive monitoring and alerting systems to promptly detect and respond to any issues or anomalies. This enables quick identification and resolution of potential problems, minimising downtime and maximising uptime.

Overall, the combination of distributed architecture, redundancy, fault tolerance, intelligent routing, and proactive monitoring makes Prisma Access resilient to disruptions, ensuring continuous and reliable network security for organisations.
Outage reporting
Prisma Access provides various mechanisms to report service outages and communicate with customers regarding any disruptions or incidents.

Firstly, Palo Alto Networks maintains a dedicated status page or portal where customers can access real-time information about the status of Prisma Access services. This status page provides updates on any ongoing incidents, maintenance activities, or service outages.

Additionally, Prisma Access offers proactive monitoring and alerting capabilities. Palo Alto Networks monitors the service infrastructure and network health to promptly detect any issues or potential outages. In the event of a service outage, customers may receive automated notifications or alerts via email, SMS, or through the Prisma Access management console.

Furthermore, customers can also reach out to Palo Alto Networks' support team directly for assistance and information regarding service outages. The support team is available to provide timely updates, answer queries, and address any concerns related to service disruptions.

By utilising these reporting mechanisms, Prisma Access ensures transparent communication and keeps customers informed about any service outages or incidents, enabling them to take necessary actions and plan accordingly.

Identity and authentication

User authentication needed
Yes
User authentication
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Limited access network (for example PSN)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
Access restrictions in management interfaces and support channels
Access to Prisma Access management interfaces and support channels is restricted through role-based access control (RBAC) and two-factor authentication (2FA). RBAC ensures that only authorized users with specific roles and permissions can access and perform actions within these interfaces. 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide additional authentication factors such as one-time passwords (OTPs) or mobile authentication apps. These measures help restrict access to authorised personnel and protect sensitive functionalities and data.
Access restriction testing frequency
At least every 6 months
Management access authentication
  • 2-factor authentication
  • Public key authentication (including by TLS client certificate)
  • Identity federation with existing provider (for example Google Apps)
  • Limited access network (for example PSN)
  • Dedicated link (for example VPN)
  • Username or password
  • Other
Description of management access authentication
Management access to Prisma Access is authenticated through a combination of user credentials, such as username and password, and additional factors such as multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA can include methods like one-time passwords (OTPs) or biometric authentication. By requiring multiple authentication factors, Prisma Access ensures secure and authorised access to its management interfaces.

Audit information for users

Access to user activity audit information
Users have access to real-time audit information
How long user audit data is stored for
User-defined
Access to supplier activity audit information
Users contact the support team to get audit information
How long supplier audit data is stored for
User-defined
How long system logs are stored for
User-defined

Standards and certifications

ISO/IEC 27001 certification
Yes
Who accredited the ISO/IEC 27001
Certified by PECB MS, Canada.
ISO/IEC 27001 accreditation date
22/08/2023
What the ISO/IEC 27001 doesn’t cover
Certifiction downloadable from https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/content/dam/pan/en_US/assets/pdf/legal/technical-certifications/iso-27001.pdf
ISO 28000:2007 certification
No
CSA STAR certification
Yes
CSA STAR accreditation date
16/07/2020
CSA STAR certification level
Level 1: CSA STAR Self-Assessment
What the CSA STAR doesn’t cover
None
PCI certification
Yes
Who accredited the PCI DSS certification
See below
PCI DSS accreditation date
See below
What the PCI DSS doesn’t cover
Information available on request. https://panservicedesk.service-now.com/esp?id=contract_request&sys_id=f53d00d61b01ac506b7d0e1dcd4bcb45
Cyber essentials
Yes
Cyber essentials plus
Yes
Other security certifications
Yes
Any other security certifications
  • NCSC Foundation Grade Certification
  • SOC2
  • FedRAMP
  • Common Criteria
  • FIPS 140-2
  • Telecom Security Act Code of Practice

Security governance

Named board-level person responsible for service security
Yes
Security governance certified
Yes
Security governance standards
  • ISO/IEC 27001
  • Other
Other security governance standards
Cyber Essentials +
SOC2
ISO 27001
ISO 27017
ISO 27018
ISO 27032
ISO 27701
Information security policies and processes
Palo Alto Networks has a formal Enterprise Risk Management program, which includes the performance of an annual risk assessment, with periodic updates, as applicable, to identify and assess key risks and their mitigation approaches. The scope of the program encompasses information security risks and product risks. Our security program consists of a risk-based approach that includes administrative, technical and physical safeguards reasonably designed to protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of customer data. Palo Alto Network's information security program is aligned to ISO 27001/2, and includes key controls from HIPAA, PCI and SOC2.

Operational security

Configuration and change management standard
Supplier-defined controls
Configuration and change management approach
Both Palo Alto Networks and the end-user organisation are in full control of their relevant and respective change control processes.
Additional details are available upon request.
Vulnerability management type
Supplier-defined controls
Vulnerability management approach
Prisma Access follows a proactive vulnerability management process to identify, assess, prioritize, and mitigate vulnerabilities:

1. Identification: Regular scanning and assessment are conducted to identify vulnerabilities.
2. Assessment: Vulnerabilities are evaluated for severity and potential impact.
3. Prioritization: Vulnerabilities are assigned priority levels based on severity and impact.
4. Mitigation Planning: A plan is developed to address vulnerabilities.
5. Remediation: The plan is executed, coordinating with relevant teams.
6. Monitoring and Reporting: Ongoing monitoring and reporting track progress in vulnerability remediation efforts.
Protective monitoring type
Conforms to a recognised standard, for example CSA CCM v3.0 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
Protective monitoring approach
1.Logs and events are centrally collected for analysis from various sources.

2. Logs are analyzed and correlated to identify patterns, anomalies, and potential security incidents.

3. Advanced security analytics and machine learning algorithms detect known and unknown threats.

4. Automated actions may be taken to block malicious IPs or isolate compromised endpoints. Security personnel are alerted for further investigation and response.

5. Security personnel investigate and analyze incidents to understand scope, impact, and root cause. Actions are taken to contain, mitigate, and remediate incidents.

6. Reports provide insights into Prisma Access's security posture. Lessons learned used to enhance security controls.
Incident management type
Conforms to a recognised standard, for example, CSA CCM v3.0 or ISO/IEC 27035:2011 or SSAE-16 / ISAE 3402
Incident management approach
This information is available upon request from Palo Alto Networks.

Secure development

Approach to secure software development best practice
Supplier-defined process

Public sector networks

Connection to public sector networks
No

Social Value

Social Value

Social Value

  • Fighting climate change
  • Tackling economic inequality
  • Equal opportunity
  • Wellbeing

Fighting climate change

Xpertex is committed to continually improving our environmental performance and monitoring. Xpertex has started the process to gain the following two environmental ISO accreditations:

ISO 14001 Environmental Management System
ISO 50001 Energy Management System
This is on top of our existing ISO9001, ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials PLUS accreditations.

Critical to our core operation is our IT infrastructure and Data Centre, which house our IT equipment, along with connectivity to our cloud Infrastructure. Xpertex recognises that energy efficient practices, and reducing our carbon footprint, are paramount in achieving our corporate sustainability goals.

Xpertex also works with its customers to help them reduce their carbon footprint where appropriate.

Full social value statement https://xpertex.com/social-values/

Tackling economic inequality

We are committed to equal pay for our workforce. To address our gender pay gap, we have several initiatives in place, to not only attract more talent, but to encourage a more balanced, and rewarding workplace.

Working with educational institutions to help attract more women into STEM focused roles.
We have a mentoring programme available for all, to encourage progression into senior roles.
Training is available to cover areas like Equality & Diversity, Unconscious Bias, etc.
We have established a Women’s Working Group who assist in supporting the attraction, retention and promotion of our female talent across the business.

Full social value statement https://xpertex.com/social-values/

Equal opportunity

Xpertex is committed to developing, supporting and sustaining a diverse workforce. It strives to create a working environment where everyone can to do their job, to the best of their ability, without having to face discrimination, harassment or victimisation. Xpertex avoids unlawful discrimination in all aspects of employment including recruitment, promotion, training opportunities, pay and benefits, discipline and selection for redundancy. Any decisions concerning employment, promotion and training will be based on objective, job-related criteria and merit. Disability and personal/home commitments will not form the basis of employment decisions except where absolutely reasonable and permissible within anti-discrimination law.

Xpertex monitors the ethnic, gender, age composition of our existing workforce as well as the number of people with disabilities within these groups and will consider and take any appropriate action to address any problems that may be identified by the monitoring process.

Full social value statement https://xpertex.com/social-values/

Wellbeing

Xpertex has an Employee Assistance Programme available to all staff which provides access to advice, counselling and support. Workplace mental health is especially important to the company with information and advice issued on a regular basis. We give every employee a day off on their birthday and additional holiday allowances are in place to recognise length of service milestones. We conduct an annual staff survey which provides opportunity for any issues to be raised to the senior management. Processes exist where concerns can be raised without fear of negative consequences for the individual raising the concerns. Flexible working practises developed during the Covid pandemic are in place giving all staff the ability to work from home where possible. We are continuing to provide these flexible working practices post-pandemic. Flexible working hours are encouraged and were invaluable during the pandemic and enabled parents with school age children to home-school their children, and those with responsibilities to the elderly to provide the support they wish to give. Staff are also encouraged to volunteer to continue to volunteer in the community. Xpertex participated in a local initiative to offer IT equipment to under-privileged children in the local community allowing them to conduct their schooling from home. When staff started to return to the office, all sensible precautions have been maintained. A cycle to work and an electric car salary sacrifice scheme are also available to all employees.

Full social value statement https://xpertex.com/social-values/

Pricing

Price
£100 a user
Discount for educational organisations
No
Free trial available
Yes
Description of free trial
A free PoC can be setup when using bespoke Professional Services

Service documents

Request an accessible format
If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need versions of these documents in a more accessible format, email the supplier at louise.carter@xpertex.com. Tell them what format you need. It will help if you say what assistive technology you use.