Versa versus Palo Alto Networks

Unified SASE platform

VERSA

Single OS and native integration of capabilities including SD-WAN

PALO ALTO NETWORKS

Fragmented software stack with acquired point-products

Enterprise-class SD-WAN

VERSA

Longstanding SD-WAN leader outscoring Palo Alto in nearly every Gartner SD-WAN critical capability

PALO ALTO NETWORKS

"At the same time, Palo Alto Networks’ offering is weaker in the basic networking capability."

– Gartner, Critical Capabilities for SASE Platforms, 14 July 2025

SSE, NGFW, and security

VERSA

Maintains top security effectiveness at scale in Cyberratings.org evaluation

PALO ALTO NETWORKS

Lower security effectiveness and higher false positive rates than Versa

Unified console

VERSA

Single unified console for SD-WAN, SSE, all security features

PALO ALTO NETWORKS

Requires 2 consoles: on-premises Panorama for SD-WAN and Prisma Access Management for SSE

Performance

VERSA

Path optimization for each connection for lower latency

PALO ALTO NETWORKS

Backhauls traffic to public hyperscalers, resulting in increased latency, jitter, and loss

Versa Unified SASE versus Palo Alto Networks

Comprehensive SASE platform

Versa delivers a comprehensive, unified SASE platform that natively integrates SD-WAN and SSE. Unlike Palo Alto Networks with its acquired SSE technologies, Versa’s native SSE offerings and unified management provides enterprises with a seamless path to SASE.

Palo Alto’s features aren’t delivered on the same software stack.

Best rated firewall and security

Cyberratings.org consistently ranks Versa’s NGFW #1 based on Security Effectiveness, Rated Throughput, and Price per Mbps. Versa SSE also outranks Palo Alto’s SSE based on Cyberratings’ testing.

"Versa Networks demonstrated the highest security effectiveness, making them the most reliable options for blocking exploits and evasion tactics."

– Cyberratings.org, Comparative Test Report: Cloud Network Firewall, Q1 2025

Enterprise-class SD-WAN

Versa combines industry-leading SD-WAN with advanced security capable of meeting the needs of large, complex WAN deployments. Whether for small branches or global Fortune 100 companies, Versa ensures optimized performance and effortless scalability.

"With this product, the vendor addresses clients of all sizes and in all vertical industries, with a particular focus on security and more complex use cases."

– Gartner, Critical Capabilities for SD-WAN, 30 Sept 2024

Comprehensive visibility

Unified networking and security across single console with near real-time data and advanced analytics.

Palo Alto SD-WAN and SSE aren’t managed within the same console, creating visibility gaps and operational inefficiency.

Resources

ANALYST REPORT

CyberRatings.org 2025 Comparative Test Report: Cloud Network Firewall

Versa Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) received the top Recommended rating from CyberRatings.org while scoring 99.90% for security effectiveness with the fastest throughput rate and the lowest cost per Mbps processed among all recommended solutions.

ANALYST REPORT

GigaOm Radar for SD-WAN Solutions

GigaOm evaluated the top 26 solution providers in the Software-Defined Area Network (SD-WAN) market, including Versa Secure SD-WAN. Versa was judged to be a Leader in the market and as Outperforming in terms of its execution against roadmap and vision.

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What distinguishes Versa Networks from Palo Alto Networks in the SD-WAN + SASE market?

Versa offers a fully unified SASE platform that integrates networking and security in one OS (VOS), giving customers consistent policy enforcement, strong performance, and lower complexity. By contrast, Palo Alto’s Prisma SASE uses a fragmented software stack composed of acquired point-products, negatively affecting integration and performance. In addition, Palo Alto’s SD-WAN is less feature-rich.

02 Which vendor provides better integration across routing, switching and security: Versa or Palo Alto?

Versa delivers seamless integration of routing, switching (via SD-LAN), and full security on the same OS and single management plane. Palo Alto has a substantial firewall heritage, but its networking and switching capabilities typically require separate components or appliances, increasing complexity.

03 How does the total cost of ownership (TCO) compare between Versa and Palo Alto?

Versa tends to offer lower TCO because it consolidates SD-WAN, security, and analytics into a single software stack, reducing hardware and operational costs. Palo Alto’s solution requires more appliances (which increases management costs), separate licenses, and higher overhead when integrating their firewalls, SD-WAN, and cloud-based services.

04 For organizations migrating from legacy firewalls to SASE or ZTNA, is Versa or Palo Alto more suitable?

Versa is more suitable for teams looking to modernize from legacy firewalls. Replacing firewalls with Versa’s SASE platforms also gives customers SD-WAN and advanced security capabilities, all managed in one console.

Migrating to Palo Alto’s SASE solution often means deploying additional Palo Alto-specific appliances and navigating multiple consoles for different parts of the solution.

Best-in-Class SASE and SD-WAN with
Versa