The curriculum covers a wide range of topics essential for managing a secure and optimized SD-WAN fabric:
Solution Overview: Understanding the core architecture, components (ION devices, Cloud Controller), and the value proposition of Palo Alto Networks Prisma SD-WAN in a modern network environment.
Branch Design: Best practices and considerations for designing branch office connectivity, including device selection and sizing criteria.
Routing: Configuration and management of both static and dynamic routing protocols (specifically BGP) within the Prisma SD-WAN fabric for seamless integration with existing data center and cloud environments.
Policy Module #1 - Application Path and QoS: Implementing application-aware dynamic path selection and Quality of Service (QoS) policies to ensure optimal performance for critical applications.
Policy Module #2 - NAT, ZBFW and Security: Configuring Network Address Translation (NAT), Zone-Based Firewall (ZBFW), and other security policies to meet compliance and security requirements.
Event Policy Management Services: Managing and configuring event-driven policies and alerts for proactive network management.
DNS and DHCP Services: Deploying and troubleshooting integrated DNS and DHCP services within the Prisma SD-WAN environment.
Operations and Troubleshooting: Utilizing built-in tools like WAN Clarity reports, device statistics, logs, and audit logs to monitor the network, analyze application performance, and resolve common operational issues.
CloudBlades: Understanding and leveraging the CloudBlades platform for integration with third-party cloud services.
Integrating Prisma SD-WAN and Prisma Access for SASE Implementation: A key module on deploying a holistic SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) architecture by integrating the SD-WAN solution with the Prisma Access cloud security platform.
DevOps: Exploring automation options and familiarity with scripting and APIs for network automation.
Target Audience and Prerequisites
Target Audience: This course is intended for network engineers, network architects, network administrators, and NOC administrators.
Prerequisites: Participants should have a basic knowledge (at least one year of experience) of routing and switching technologies (including BGP), experience deploying and operating WANs, and experience with DNS, DHCP, and IP management tools.
Completion of this course is valuable for those pursuing the Palo Alto Networks Certified SD-WAN Engineer certification.
