Palo Alto Networks PA-5550-DC Next-Gen Firewall 175 Gbps, Quantum-Optimized

Unprecedented Security and Speed for Data Centers and Service Providers

In high-speed network environments like data centers, internet gateways, and service provider facilities, the demand for both raw throughput and advanced security is paramount. The Palo Alto Networks PA-5550 is engineered to solve this, providing a Quantum Optimized Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) that delivers massive scale and industry-leading threat prevention in a 3U rack unit design. Powered by the same PAN-OS software as all Palo Alto Networks NGFWs, the PA-5550 uses a single-pass architecture and the custom FE-400 ASIC to ensure predictable, high-performance security.

Key Benefits & Features

The PA-5550 is a workhorse for the most demanding network edge, delivering speed, resilience, and future-proof security features to protect your critical infrastructure.

Extreme Throughput with AI-Powered Threat Prevention

Achieve enterprise-grade protection without sacrificing speed. The PA-5550 delivers a powerful 175 Gbps of firewall throughput and a formidable 120 Gbps of Threat Prevention throughput. This performance is backed by Precision AI, an embedded engine that prevents threats—including zero-day exploits and never-before-seen phishing attempts—in real time.

Quantum-Ready Cryptographic Protection and DC Power

Future-proof your network with the world's first quantum-optimized NGFW. The PA-5550 is post-quantum cryptography (PQC) ready, supporting PQC SSL/TLS decryption and PQC VPN site-to-site using NIST standards like ML-KEM. Designed for mission-critical deployments, the DC model supports robust -40 VDC to -60 VDC input power and features 2+2 redundant power supplies for maximum uptime and carrier-grade reliability.

Scalability and High Availability for the Core

Handle explosive traffic growth with support for up to 49M concurrent sessions and 1.67M new sessions per second. The PA-5550 features an extensive I/O array, including 4x 100G/400G QSFP-DD ports, and supports NGFW clustering with an active/active data plane for efficient horizontal scaling and a highly resilient solution.

Ideal Use Cases

• High-Speed Data Centers: Securing traffic with high throughput and low latency.
• Internet Gateways: Providing a quantum-ready security perimeter for large corporate or service provider networks.
• Service Provider Deployments: Utilizing 5G-Native Security capabilities and DC power resilience for the core network.

Technical Specifications

• Firewall Throughput (AppMix): 175 Gbps
• Threat Prevention Throughput (AppMix): 120 Gbps
• IPsec VPN Throughput: 100 Gbps
• Max Concurrent Sessions: 49M
• New Sessions per Second: 1.67M
• Virtual Systems (Base/Max): 25 / 225
• I/O Ports (Max): 4x 100G/400G QSFP-DD, 16x 40G/100G QSFP28, 16x 10G/25G SFP28 (All for PA-5540/PA-5550)
• HSCI Ports: 2x 100G/400G QSFP-DD
• Input Voltage (DC): -40 VDC to -60 VDC

Ready to Revolutionize Your Data Center Security?

Choose the PA-5550 DC-Powered NGFW to deliver unmatched speed, intelligence, and resilience for your most critical network segments. It’s managed easily with Strata Cloud Manager and built to dominate the modern threat landscape.