* [Blog](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog)
* [Palo Alto Networks](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/corporate/)
* [Announcement](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/)
* Research Shows 163% ROI w...

# Research Shows 163% ROI with Palo Alto Networks Software Firewalls

[](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2023%2F12%2Fresearch-shows-roi-with-software-firewalls%2F)  
[](https://twitter.com/share?text=Research+Shows+163%25+ROI+with+Palo+Alto+Networks+Software+Firewalls&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2023%2F12%2Fresearch-shows-roi-with-software-firewalls%2F)  
[](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fblog%2F2023%2F12%2Fresearch-shows-roi-with-software-firewalls%2F&title=Research+Shows+163%25+ROI+with+Palo+Alto+Networks+Software+Firewalls&summary=&source=)  
[](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com//www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2023/12/research-shows-roi-with-software-firewalls/&ts=markdown)  
\[\](mailto:?subject=Research Shows 163% ROI with Palo Alto Networks Software Firewalls)  
Link copied  
By [Paul Carlstrom](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/author/paul-carlstrom/?ts=markdown "Posts by Paul Carlstrom")  
Dec 14, 2023  
4 minutes  
[Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown)  
[Forrester](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/forrester/?ts=markdown)  
[NGFW](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/tag/ngfw/?ts=markdown)

This post is also available in: [简体中文 (Chinese (Simplified))](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2024/01/research-shows-roi-with-software-firewalls/?lang=zh-hans "Switch to Chinese (Simplified)(简体中文)") [繁體中文 (Chinese (Traditional))](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2024/01/research-shows-roi-with-software-firewalls/?lang=zh-hant "Switch to Chinese (Traditional)(繁體中文)") [日本語 (Japanese)](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2024/01/research-shows-roi-with-software-firewalls/?lang=ja "Switch to Japanese(日本語)") [한국어 (Korean)](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2024/01/research-shows-roi-with-software-firewalls/?lang=ko "Switch to Korean(한국어)")

## Forrester Consulting Study Now Available

Good news is here for cloud and network security professionals who need proven, cost-effective solutions that substantially reduce downtime and breaches across a range of cloud and virtualized environments. Palo Alto Networks software firewalls not only provide superb security for applications and workloads in all clouds and networks but also pay for themselves.

Find the details about a composite organization representative of interviewed and surveyed customers who realized a significant 163% return on investment (ROI) over 3 years. Those surveyed had no initial investment in the recently released Forrester Consulting study commissioned by Palo Alto Networks -- [The Total Economic Impact™ of Palo Alto Networks Software Firewalls](https://start.paloaltonetworks.com/forrester-tei-software-firewalls). You'll discover how our family of software Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) -- virtual, container, managed cloud service -- provided $3.70 million in benefits over a period of 3 years.

## See Cost Avoidance Measured in Seven Figures

So where do these figures come from? The Forrester study leveraged in-depth interviews, extensive surveying and deep financial analysis to create a composite organization, which experienced benefits of $5.98 million over 3 years, versus costs of $2.28 million. All this added up to a net present value (NPV) of $3.70 million, which means the composite organization ended up getting more financial benefits than it initially invested.
![Chart of key statistics for software firewalls.](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/word-image-310423-1.png)
3-year ROI, present value (PV) benefits and net present value (NPV) Palo Alto Networks software firewalls. Taken from The Total Economic Impact of Palo Alto Networks Software Firewalls, a commissioned study conducted by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Palo Alto Networks, October 2023.

The comprehensive study looks at a range of environments modern enterprises rely upon: hybrid clouds, multiclouds, private clouds, single public clouds. Software firewalls, covered by the study, comprise[VM-Series virtual firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/vm-series-virtual-next-generation-firewall),[CN-Series container firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/cn-series), as well as managed cloud firewall services, such as[Cloud NGFW for AWS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/cloud-ngfw) and[Cloud NGFW for Azure](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/cloud-ngfw-for-azure).

## Understand How More Efficient Security Added Up

As the study details, the composite organization realized multiple financial benefits through better security:

* $1.8 million in firewall deployment and maintenance savings, which came from a 25% decrease in deployment time, along with 35% less time needed for firewall security and network management, for a total of 12,000 hours.
* Nearly $1.6 million in infrastructure cost reduction by bypassing the need for physical devices and their overprovisioning.
* Another $1.6 million in savings by reducing the risk of and impact of a security breach.
* $683 thousand in savings from reduced downtime, which stems from reducing end-user downtime by 67% and overall downtime length by 50%.
* $239 thousand in improved remediation efficiency by reducing labor by 50%, as well as $145 thousand by cutting security posture attainment time in half.

Once you download the study, you'll be able to dive into detailed financial charts, which let you understand the full details of year-by-year savings and increased security efficacy.

## How Agile Organizations Reaped Security and Financial Benefits

The Total Economic Impact of Palo Alto Networks Software Firewalls offers deep insights into commonly shared security issues for today's agile enterprises. The organizations surveyed and interviewed needed to find ways to resolve cost, efficiency and security issues:

* Costly and difficult governance and management with disparate legacy, siloed and difficult to manage firewalls.
* Downtime due to unreliable and myriad and unreliable devices.
* Increased risk of attack, frequent downtime due to inconsistent security posture with disparate devices.

Yet, once Palo Alto Networks software firewalls were deployed, these issues were resolved. 94% of the survey respondents in the Forrester study agreed that Palo Alto Networks Software Firewalls improved their organization's management, administration and operation efforts.

One interview respondent, a director of network security engineering in the financial services industry said:

> ***Palo Alto Networks software firewalls \[are\] a cornerstone of our security program . . . if we didn't have them, I think we'd be in trouble.***

We believe that with Palo Alto Networks, your organization can stay out of trouble by shedding costly, ineffective security practices. Be sure to read the [Forrester Consulting Study](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/research/the-total-economic-impact-of-palo-alto-networks-software-firewalls) and see how Palo Alto Networks software firewalls save customers time, money and downtime. Contact us to arrange a thorough and [personalized demo](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/company/request-demo).

*** ** * ** ***

## Related Blogs

### [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/next-generation-firewalls/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown)

[#### Enterprise \& Branch Security with Palo Alto Networks New NGFWs](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/enterprise-branch-security-with-palo-alto-networks-new-ngfws/)

### [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/next-generation-firewalls/?ts=markdown), [Strata Network Security Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/strata-network-security-platform/?ts=markdown)

[#### A Leader in IDC MarketScape for Enterprise Hybrid Firewall Solutions](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/a-leader-in-idc-marketscape-for-enterprise-hybrid-firewall-solutions/)

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

[#### PA-7500 Redefines Network Defense: A Paradigm Shift in Cybersecurity](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/pa-7500-redefines-network-defense-a-paradigm-shift-in-cybersecurity/)

### [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Company \& Culture](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/company-culture/?ts=markdown), [News \& Events](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/sase/category/news-events/?ts=markdown), [Product Features](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/sase/category/product-features/?ts=markdown)

[#### Understand SASE ROI for Network Security Transformation](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2024/02/sase-roi-for-network-security-transformation/)

### [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown), [Zero Trust Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/zero-trust-security/?ts=markdown)

[#### Palo Alto Networks Paves the Way with New OT Security Innovations](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2023/11/new-ot-security-innovations/)

### [Announcement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/announcement/?ts=markdown), [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/network-security/category/next-generation-firewalls/?ts=markdown), [Products and Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/category/products-and-services/?ts=markdown)

[#### Just Released and Ready for Download --- Software Firewalls for Dummies](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2023/09/software-firewalls-for-dummies/)

### Subscribe to the Blog!

Sign up to receive must-read articles, Playbooks of the Week, new feature announcements, and more.
![spinner](https://www2.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/wp-content/themes/panwblog2023/dist/images/ajax-loader.gif) Sign up  
Please enter a valid email.  
By submitting this form, you agree to our [Terms of Use](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/terms-of-use?ts=markdown) and acknowledge our [Privacy Statement](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/privacy?ts=markdown). Please look for a confirmation email from us. If you don't receive it in the next 10 minutes, please check your spam folder.  
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply.  
{#footer} {#footer}

## Products and Services

* [AI-Powered Network Security Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security?ts=markdown)

* [Secure AI by Design](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/precision-ai-security/secure-ai-by-design?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma AIRS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/prisma-ai-runtime-security?ts=markdown)

* [AI Access Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/ai-access-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Delivered Security Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/security-subscriptions?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced Threat Prevention](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-threat-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced URL Filtering](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-url-filtering?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced WildFire](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-wildfire?ts=markdown)

* [Advanced DNS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/advanced-dns-security?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise Data Loss Prevention](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/enterprise-data-loss-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise IoT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/enterprise-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [Medical IoT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/medical-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [Industrial OT Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/medical-device-security?ts=markdown)

* [SaaS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/saas-security?ts=markdown)

* [Next-Generation Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/next-generation-firewall?ts=markdown)

* [Hardware Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/hardware-firewall-innovations?ts=markdown)

* [Software Firewalls](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/software-firewalls?ts=markdown)

* [Strata Cloud Manager](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/strata-cloud-manager?ts=markdown)

* [SD-WAN for NGFW](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/sd-wan-subscription?ts=markdown)

* [PAN-OS](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/pan-os?ts=markdown)

* [Panorama](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/network-security/panorama?ts=markdown)

* [Secure Access Service Edge](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma SASE](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase?ts=markdown)

* [Application Acceleration](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/app-acceleration?ts=markdown)

* [Autonomous Digital Experience Management](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/adem?ts=markdown)

* [Enterprise DLP](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/enterprise-data-loss-prevention?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Access](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/access?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Browser](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/prisma-browser?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma SD-WAN](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/sd-wan?ts=markdown)

* [Remote Browser Isolation](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/remote-browser-isolation?ts=markdown)

* [SaaS Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sase/saas-security?ts=markdown)

* [AI-Driven Security Operations Platform](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex Cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [Application Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/application-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Posture Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/cloud-posture-security?ts=markdown)

* [Cloud Runtime Security](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cloud/runtime-security?ts=markdown)

* [Prisma Cloud](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/prisma/cloud?ts=markdown)

* [AI-Driven SOC](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XSIAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xsiam?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XDR](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xdr?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex XSOAR](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xsoar?ts=markdown)

* [Cortex Xpanse](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/cortex-xpanse?ts=markdown)

* [Unit 42 Managed Detection \& Response](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/managed-detection-and-response?ts=markdown)

* [Managed XSIAM](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cortex/managed-xsiam?ts=markdown)

* [Threat Intel and Incident Response Services](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42?ts=markdown)

* [Proactive Assessments](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/assess?ts=markdown)

* [Incident Response](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/respond?ts=markdown)

* [Transform Your Security Strategy](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/transform?ts=markdown)

* [Discover Threat Intelligence](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42/threat-intelligence-partners?ts=markdown)

## Company

* [About Us](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us?ts=markdown)
* [Careers](https://jobs.paloaltonetworks.com/en/)
* [Contact Us](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/company/contact-sales?ts=markdown)
* [Corporate Responsibility](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us/corporate-responsibility?ts=markdown)
* [Customers](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/customers?ts=markdown)
* [Investor Relations](https://investors.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Location](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/about-us/locations?ts=markdown)
* [Newsroom](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/company/newsroom?ts=markdown)

## Popular Links

* [Blog](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/?ts=markdown)
* [Communities](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/communities?ts=markdown)
* [Content Library](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources?ts=markdown)
* [Cyberpedia](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/cyberpedia?ts=markdown)
* [Event Center](https://events.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Manage Email Preferences](https://start.paloaltonetworks.com/preference-center)
* [Products A-Z](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/products/products-a-z?ts=markdown)
* [Product Certifications](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/trust-center/compliance?ts=markdown)
* [Report a Vulnerability](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/security-disclosure?ts=markdown)
* [Sitemap](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/sitemap?ts=markdown)
* [Tech Docs](https://docs.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Unit 42](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/)
* [Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information](https://panwedd.exterro.net/portal/dsar.htm?target=panwedd)
  ![PAN logo](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/pan-logo-dark.svg)
* [Privacy](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/privacy?ts=markdown)
* [Trust Center](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/trust-center?ts=markdown)
* [Terms of Use](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal-notices/terms-of-use?ts=markdown)
* [Documents](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/legal?ts=markdown)

Copyright © 2026 Palo Alto Networks. All Rights Reserved

* [![Youtube](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/youtube-black.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/user/paloaltonetworks)
* [![Podcast](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/content/dam/pan/en_US/images/icons/podcast.svg)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/podcasts/threat-vector?ts=markdown)
* [![Facebook](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/facebook-black.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/PaloAltoNetworks/)
* [![LinkedIn](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/linkedin-black.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks)
* [![Twitter](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/etc/clientlibs/clean/imgs/social/twitter-x-black.svg)](https://twitter.com/PaloAltoNtwks)
* EN  
  Select your language