* [Blog](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog) * [Palo Alto Networks](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/corporate/) * [Data Center](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/data-center-2/) * Securing Your Virtualized... # Securing Your Virtualized Data Center [](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2012%2F10%2Fsecuring-your-virtualized-data-center%2F) [](https://twitter.com/share?text=Securing+Your+Virtualized+Data+Center&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2012%2F10%2Fsecuring-your-virtualized-data-center%2F) [](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2012%2F10%2Fsecuring-your-virtualized-data-center%2F&title=Securing+Your+Virtualized+Data+Center&summary=&source=) [](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com//www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2012/10/securing-your-virtualized-data-center/&ts=markdown) \[\](mailto:?subject=Securing Your Virtualized Data Center) Link copied By [Palo Alto Networks](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/author/palo-alto-networks-staff/?ts=markdown "Posts by Palo Alto Networks") Oct 02, 2012 2 minutes [Data Center](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/data-center-2/?ts=markdown) [cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/cloud/?ts=markdown) [data center](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/data-center/?ts=markdown) [orchestration](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/orchestration/?ts=markdown) [virtualization](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/virtualization/?ts=markdown) The topic of security for virtualization and cloud is an important one for many of you. With virtualization and cloud technologies, the [data center](http://www.paloaltonetworks.com/solutions/data-center/) environment has evolved from rigid, fixed environments where applications run on dedicated servers towards dynamic, automated, orchestrated environments where pools of computing resources are available to support any application to be accessed anywhere, anytime, from any device. Security is the biggest hurdle to support this new architecture. How long does it take your security administrators today to implement appropriate policy changes on [firewalls](http://www.paloaltonetworks.com/) in the network? How can you ensure security is not slowing down this dynamic environment, yet at the same time, continues to deliver key functionality -- safe application enablement, protection against modern threats with predictable performance, and flexible network integration? In a series of articles on Security Week, I provide context around the requirements that you should thinking about in the virtualized data center. In Part 1, I wrote about [how important is it to ensure security solutions are integrated with orchestration systems](http://www.securityweek.com/virtualized-data-center-security-part-1-orchestrating-security-your-cloud) so that security does not slow down the dynamic nature of virtualization and cloud environments. In Part 2, I continue the discussion on security requirements beyond automation and orchestration - [which requirements stay the same and which changes](http://www.securityweek.com/virtualized-data-center-security-part-2-what-changes-what-stays-same) as you move towards virtualization and cloud. All of these discussions will culminate at [Ignite](http://www.paloaltonetworks.com/news/events/ignite/), where we will feature several sessions on our approach to security in the virtualized data center. *** ** * ** *** ## Related Blogs ### [News of the Week](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/news-of-the-week/?ts=markdown) [#### Palo Alto Networks News of the Week -- July 1, 2017](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2017/07/palo-alto-networks-news-week-july-1-2017/) ### [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Cloud Network Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cloud-network-security/?ts=markdown), [Cloud NGFW](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/cloud-ngfw/?ts=markdown), [Guest Post](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/guest-post/?ts=markdown), [Hybrid Cloud Data Center](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/hybrid-cloud-data-center/?ts=markdown), [Partners](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/partners/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown) [#### Untangling Hybrid Cloud Security](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2025/12/untangling-hybrid-cloud-security/) ### [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/next-generation-firewalls/?ts=markdown) [#### Stop Guessing: CLARA Ends the Cloud and AI Visibility Paradox](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/stop-guessing-clara-ends-the-cloud-and-ai-visibility-paradox/) ### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/product-features/?ts=markdown) [#### Why Integrated File Integrity Monitoring Matters for Elevating Your Security](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/why-integrated-file-integrity-monitoring-matters-for-elevating-your-security/) ### [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Cloud Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cloud-security/?ts=markdown), [Government](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/government/?ts=markdown) [#### Forging a Secure Digital Future](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2025/08/forging-secure-digital-future/) ### [Must-Read Articles](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/must-read-articles/?ts=markdown), [News and Events](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/news-and-events/?ts=markdown), [Playbook of the Week](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/category/playbook-of-the-week/?ts=markdown) [#### What's New for Cortex and Cortex Cloud (Apr '25)](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/security-operations/whats-new-for-cortex-and-cortex-cloud-apr-25/) ### Subscribe to the Blog! 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