In an Azure deployment, which Palo Alto Networks firewall feature is an enabler of micro-segmentation?

Micro-segmentation is a security strategy that involves creating secure zones in data centers and cloud environments to isolate workloads from one another. This is critical for minimizing attack surfaces and containing potential breaches within a defined area. In Azure deployments using Palo Alto Networks firewalls, the feature that best enables micro-segmentation is the use of network zones.

Network zones allow you to define segments within your virtual environment based on certain attributes, such as workloads, applications, or security requirements. By creating zones, you can enforce different security policies and rules tailored to the specific needs of that segment. This capability is essential for micro-segmentation as it treats each segment as a separate entity, applying appropriate controls and inspections according to the security posture of each zone.

For instance, you might have zones for development, testing, production, and external-facing services, each with distinct security configurations and traffic rules. This granularity not only enhances security but also provides flexibility in managing traffic between these micro-segmented areas.

In contrast, features such as VLAN tagging, App-ID, and limited interfaces in the VM-Series do not directly enable micro-segmentation. VLAN tagging is primarily used for network traffic management rather than segmentation, App-ID focuses on identifying applications for policy enforcement, and