The reason firewall comparisons are so important is that you know what steps to take next. Unfortunately, you can’t sit on the same hardware forever. In the same vein, the next firewall you choose should be what’s right for your current and future business objectives. Some of this is obvious when it comes to comparing the PA-3020 vs PA-3250 firewalls from Palo Alto. This is primarily due to the fact that the PA-3020 met its end of life (EOL) back in 2024.
Navigating this definitely requires quite a bit of hindsight, but with the right approach, it’s easier to discern than you might think. That’s why datasheets are so helpful in your decision-making, as you can simply compare the numbers to find your answer. Dive into this comparison between PA-3020 vs PA-3250 to discover the upgrades in what’s new from Palo Alto and what it can do for your growing business.
Evolving Palo Alto NGFWs
Now considered to be a legacy model from the manufacturer, the PA-3020 was a solid choice at one point in time. This isn’t so much the case today, and that sentiment considers more than just EOL dates. You’d likely find that the hardware doesn’t do much for your scalability, especially when you take into account what the PA-3250 brings to the table.
While it’s true that the phrase ‘newer isn’t always better’ has some validity, that isn’t the right mentality when it comes to your network security. Regardless of your specific industry, it isn’t just about having the newest releases; it’s about having the features you need to combat today’s cybersecurity threats. This Palo Alto firewall comparison helps you sort through the noise and come out with a clear understanding of why the upgrade matters.
What is the PA-3020 Firewall?
Once again, this particular firewall doesn’t have any active support or updates anymore. Its end of sale was back in 2019, and it officially reached its EOL on October 31st, 2024. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean its specs didn’t support many growing business networks for years.
Below, you can find some of the leading specs about the PA-3020 firewall:
- Firewall Throughput: 2 Gbps
- Threat Prevention Throughput: 1 Gbps
- IPSec VPN Throughput: 500 Mbps
- New Sessions per Second: 50,000
- Max Concurrent Sessions: 250,000
If you know anything about firewalls, there’s no question that they include a lot more than what’s mentioned above. For comparison’s sake, this is a good starting point when you stand it up against one of Palo Alto’s newer pieces of firewall hardware.
What is the PA-3250 Firewall?
An excellent option for mid-range businesses, the PA-3250 is built with 300-500 active users in mind. More than enough for a growing company, its specs go beyond support for a mere transition from an older firewall model:
Here’s how it compares with those same specifications mentioned above:
- Firewall Throughput: 5 Gbps
- Threat Prevention Throughput: 2.5 Gbps
- IPsec VPN Throughput: 2.6 Gbps
- New Sessions per Second: 58,000
- Max Concurrent Sessions: 2,000,000
You can see that the PA-3250 blows the predecessor out of the water in every category here, including next-generation features like automation. Even so, you should still consider many other aspects of Palo Alto cybersecurity before you make a decision. To help with this, the table in the next section is the perfect support for your decision-making if you’re wondering where they fit into your network demands.
PA-3020 vs PA-3250 Simplified
Taking a glance at any datasheet can feel overwhelming due to how technical the entire document can be. While the fine print is always important, what you’re looking for resides in a few key areas. Review the table below for a no-frills comparison between PA-3020 vs PA-3250 hardware firewalls.
| Specification | PA-3020 | PA-3250 |
|---|---|---|
| Firewall Throughput (Gbps) | 2 | 5 |
| Threat Prevention Throughput (Gbps) | 1 | 2.5 |
| IPsec VPN Throughput (Mbps/Gbps) | 500 | 2.6 |
| New Sessions per Second | 50,000 | 58,000 |
| Max Concurrent Sessions | 250,000 | 2,000,000 |
| Storage Capacity | 120GB SSD | 240 GB SSD |
| Max BTU | 683 | 819 |
| Power Supply | 250W | 650W |
If you keep digging through the datasheets, you’re only going to find the PA-3250 coming out on top. Once again, the PA-3020 did well for its time, but that time has been over since October of last year. Aside from changes in the Palo Alto firewall price and features, the PA-3250 is a modern solution compared to any of the outdated models from the manufacturer.
Final Thoughts
Searching for your next firewall can be a brain-racking experience, but that can be avoided by simply having the right information. Whether you’re an existing Palo Alto user or not, the PA-3250 is an excellent upgrade from the PA-3020 and other relevant firewalls.
It’s understandable to have questions and concerns, but they can be mitigated by understanding the hardware you’re looking at. We’re more than happy to help here as well, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team for an expert’s opinion on your firewall upgrade.
