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* AWS Auto Scaling Integrat...

# AWS Auto Scaling Integration- Another Problem Solved Through Innovation

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By [Matt Keil](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/author/matt/?ts=markdown "Posts by Matt Keil")  
Sep 30, 2016  
4 minutes  
[Cloud Computing](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cloud-computing-2/?ts=markdown)  
[Cybersecurity](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cybersecurity-2/?ts=markdown)  
[Auto Scaling](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/auto-scaling/?ts=markdown)  
[AWS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/aws/?ts=markdown)  
[NGFW](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/ngfw/?ts=markdown)  
[VM-Series](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/vm-series/?ts=markdown)

We strive to solve customer problems in an innovative manner that doesn't slow business productivity. The core features of our [next-generation firewall](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/secure-the-network/next-generation-firewall) solved the inadequacies of port-based filtering. [WildFire](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/secure-the-network/subscriptions/wildfire) and [AutoFocus](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/secure-the-network/subscriptions/autofocus) delivered on the promise of a global threat intelligence cloud, preventing unknown threats and helping customers make actionable the intelligence gathered to more effectively protect their network.

Now comes a new feature set for our VM-Series on Amazon Web Services (AWS) that natively integrates with AWS Auto Scaling and Elastic Load Balancing (ELB), allowing the VM-Series on AWS to scale dynamically, yet independently of fluctuating AWS workloads. Auto Scaling the VM-Series on AWS leverages two load balancers, effectively creating a load balancer sandwich that enables VM-Series firewalls to scale independently of AWS workloads, based on metrics.

Palo Alto Networks worked with the AWS team to design a solution that uses native AWS services and standard VM-Series (PAN-OS) automation features to dynamically, yet independently, scale the VM-Series on AWS as protected workload demands fluctuate. Here's a bit more detail on the solution components and how they are used:

* **AWS CloudFormation Template**is used to deploy the entire solution from an AWS CloudFormation template. This creates a simple-to-deploy, all-inclusive Auto Scaling the VM-Series on AWS solution.
* **AWS Lambda** is used for several predefined services, including: add network interfaces (ENIs) on newly deployed VM-Series instances, monitor VM-Series traffic metrics, and communicate with Amazon CloudWatch (via SNS).
* **AWS S3** is used to store the VM-Series bootstrap configuration and the Lambda scripts. S3 storage can also be used to store other types of files, such as other AWS CloudFormation Templates, used for additional automation.
* **Amazon CloudWatch** monitors the AWS workloads, collecting relevant statistics that can be used in conjunction with the VM-Series metrics to initiate the deployment or removal of a VM-Series firewall.
* **Bootstrapping** (\*\*VM-Series/PAN-OS)\*\*allows you to create a fully configured VM-Series firewall instance. Each bootstrapped firewall can include firewall configuration, security policies, content updates, and inclusion in a Panorama network security management device group.
* **PAN-OS (VM-Series/PAN-OS) API** pulls user-defined metrics from the VM-Series firewall and uses Lambda to send them to CloudWatch.
* **Panorama**can optionally be used to centrally manage the entire solution.

**How It Works**

The AWS CloudFormation Template deploys an initial VM-Series firewall Auto Scaling Group using a bootstrapped image stored in AWS S3. The VM-Series bootstrapped image can also automatically attach the VM-Series firewall to Panorama if it has been deployed.

As traffic hitting your web server increases, CloudWatch monitors the traffic, initiating alarms based on user-defined metrics and, ultimately, the addition of a new web server. As the web server traffic increases, so too does the VM-Series traffic, which is where Lambda comes in to play. Lambda collects VM-Series metrics via the XML API and feeds them to CloudWatch as custom metrics, triggering a VM-Series scale-out event using the bootstrapped VM-Series firewall image. As traffic to the web server winds down, a scale-in event is triggered based on defined CloudWatch metrics, and the VM-Series is removed.

The Auto Scaling the VM-Series on AWS feature set is production ready, meaning if you use the scripts and templates as they are designed and run into a challenge, you can call the support team for assistance.

To learn more about the innovative way in which we solved the scaling challenge:

* Watch the [Auto Scaling the VM-Series on AWS Lightboard and demo](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiPZHzdNRmI&feature=youtu.be).

* Visit the [VM-Series for AWS resource page](https://aws.paloaltonetworks.com/)

* Access all the necessary [Auto Scaling the VM-Series in AWS resources](https://github.com/PaloAltoNetworks/aws-elb-autoscaling) if you're already using the VM-Series and ready to give it a try.

*Auto Scaling the VM-Series on AWS uses AWS Marketplace Bundle 1 or Bundle 2, in either an annual or an hourly subscription. BYOL is not supported for Auto Scaling the VM-Series on AWS.*

*** ** * ** ***

## Related Blogs

### [Cloud Computing](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cloud-computing-2/?ts=markdown), [Cloud Workload Protection Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/cloud-security/category/cloud-workload-protection-platform/?ts=markdown), [Cybersecurity](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cybersecurity-2/?ts=markdown), [Partners](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/partners/?ts=markdown), [Partners](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/cloud-security/category/partners/?ts=markdown)

[#### Automating Visibility and Protection for Cloud VMs](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/cloud-security/automating-visibility-protection-cloud-vms/)

### [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Cloud Computing](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cloud-computing-2/?ts=markdown), [Cloud Workload Protection Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/cloud-security/category/cloud-workload-protection-platform/?ts=markdown), [Cybersecurity](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cybersecurity-2/?ts=markdown), [Partners](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/partners/?ts=markdown), [Partners](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/cloud-security/category/partners/?ts=markdown)

[#### Prisma Cloud Secures Containerized Apps on AWS-Optimized Bottlerocket](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/cloud-security/secure-containerized-app-aws-bottlerocket/)

### [Cloud Computing](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cloud-computing-2/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown)

[#### Securing Large Scale AWS Deployments with a Transit VPC](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2018/04/securing-large-scale-aws-deployments-transit-vpc/)

### [Cloud Computing](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cloud-computing-2/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown)

[#### How Palo Alto Networks Scales Next-Gen Security on AWS](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2018/02/palo-alto-networks-scales-next-gen-security-aws/)

### [Cloud Computing](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/cloud-computing-2/?ts=markdown), [Cloud NGFW](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/cloud-ngfw/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown)

[#### Cloud NGFW is Essential for AWS \& Azure Cloud Traffic Protection](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/cloud-ngfw-is-essential-for-aws-azure-cloud-traffic-protection/)

### [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/next-generation-firewalls/?ts=markdown)

[#### See How VM-Series Virtual Firewalls Pay for Themselves](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/forrester-spotlight-ngfw/)

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