Security Profile Groups
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Focus
Network Security

Security Profile Groups

Table of Contents

Security Profile Groups

Where Can I Use This?
What Do I Need?
  • NGFW (Cloud Managed)
  • NGFW (PAN-OS & Panorama Managed)
  • Prisma Access (Cloud Managed)
  • Prisma Access (Panorama Managed)
Check for any license or role requirements for the products you're using.
A Security profile group is a set of security profiles that can be treated as a unit and then easily added to Security policies. Profiles that are often assigned together can be added to profile groups to simplify the creation of Security policies. For example, you can create a Security profile group for threats that includes profiles for Antivirus, Anti-Spyware, and Vulnerability Protection and then create a Security rule that includes the threats profile. Similarly, Antivirus, Anti-Spyware, Vulnerability Protection, URL filtering, and file blocking profiles that are often assigned together can be combined into profile groups to simplify the creation of Security policies. You can also setup a default security profile group—new security policies will use the settings defined in the default profile group to check and control traffic that matches the Security policy. Name a security profile group default to allow the profiles in that group to be added to new Security policies by default. This allows you to consistently include your organization’s preferred profile settings in new policies automatically, without having to manually add security profiles each time you create new rules.
Here are the Security Profile settings:
Security Profile Group Settings
Description
Name
The profile group name (up to 31 characters). This name appears in the profiles list when defining Security policies. The name is case-sensitive and must be unique. Use only letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens, and underscores.
Shared (
Panorama only
)
When a profile group is Shared, the profile group to be available to:
  • Every virtual system (vsys) on a multi-vsys. If you clear this selection, the profile group will be available only to the
    Virtual System
    selected in the
    Objects
    tab.
  • Every device group on Panorama. If you clear this selection, the profile group will be available only to the
    Device Group
    selected in the
    Objects
    tab.
Disable override (
Panorama only
)
Prevents administrators from overriding the settings of this Security Profile group object in device groups that inherit the object. By default, the administrators can override the settings for any device group that inherits the object.
Profiles
Profiles to be included in this group, for example, Antivirus, Anti-Spyware, Vulnerability Protection, URL filtering, and/or file blocking. Data filtering profiles can also be specified in Security Profile groups.

Create a Security Profile Group

While Security rules enable you to allow or block traffic on your network, Security profiles help you define an allow but scan rule, which scans allowed applications for threats, such as viruses, malware, spyware, and DDOS attacks. When traffic matches the allow rule defined in the Security policy, the Security profile(s) that are attached to the rule are applied for further content inspection rules such as antivirus checks and data filtering.
Security profiles are the only profiles that attach to security rules. Profiles and the security rules that they attach to must be of the same type.
  • Security profiles are not used in the match criteria of a traffic flow. The Security profile is applied to scan traffic after the application or category is allowed by the Security policy.
  • You must create a security profile group to add security profiles to policy rule in Strata Cloud Manager, but PAN-OS and Panorama do not have this requirement.
You can use out of the box default Security profiles to begin protecting your network from threats. See Set Up a Basic Security Policy for information on using the default profiles in your Security policy.
For recommendations on the best-practice settings for Security profiles, see Create Best Practice Security Profiles for the Internet Gateway.
Security Profile Groups streamline the management and application of security settings, allowing you to apply a set of predefined profiles to traffic based on their security requirements.

Cloud Managed

Create a security profile group and add it to a Security policy.
In Strata Cloud Manager, a Security profile is only active when these two things are in place:
  • The Security profile is in a profile group
    A profile group is a set of profiles—it can contain one profile from each profile type.
  • A Security rule is referencing the profile group
    When a Security rule is referencing a profile group, you can make updates to the individual profiles and the group without editing the Security rule. The Security rule automatically enforces your changes, without requiring you to make a policy commit.
    To get started, you’ll need to:
    • Add a profile group
      When adding a Security Profile Group to your configuration, begin by providing a descriptive name and optional description to identify the purpose and functionality of the group.
    • Choose your Security Profiles
      Select the security profiles you wish to include within the group. These profiles can encompass various security aspects such as antivirus, antispyware, vulnerability protection, URL Filtering, and more. Customize each selected profile based on specific security rules and threat prevention needs.
      After configuring the profiles, associate the profile group with security rules to ensure consistent and comprehensive threat prevention. Implement this association by editing existing security rules or creating new ones, referencing the Security Profile Group accordingly.
    • Review your Security Profile Group
      Regularly reviewing and updating your Security Profile Groups is crucial to adapt to evolving threats and security requirements. This iterative process involves fine-tuning profile settings and incorporating new threat intelligence to optimize security efficacy. By effectively utilizing security profile groups, you can streamline security policy management, achieve granular threat prevention, and fortify your network against a wide array of cyberthreats.
    Use the following steps to create a security profile group and add it to a Security policy.
  1. Create a security profile group.
    If you name the group
    default
    , it'll be automatically attached to any new rules you create. This is a time saver if you have a preferred set of security profiles that you want to make sure get attached to every new rule.
    1. Select
      Manage
      Configuration
      NGFW and
      Prisma Access
      Security Services
      Profile Groups
      and
      Add Profile Group
      .
    2. Give the profile group a descriptive
      Name
      , for example, Threats.
    3. Add existing profiles to the group.
    4. Select
      Save
      to save the profile group.
  2. Add your security profile group to a Security policy.
    1. Select
      Manage
      Configuration
      NGFW and
      Prisma Access
      Security Services
      Security Policy
      and
      Add Rule
      or modify a security security rule.
    2. In the
      Profile Group
      drop-down in the
      Actions
      tab, select the group you created (for example, select the best-practice group):
    3. Select
      Save
      to save the security rule.
  3. Select
    Push Config
    to push your configuration changes to your network.

Set Up or Override a Default Security Profile Group

A Security Profile Group streamlines the management and application of security settings, allowing you to apply a set of predefined profiles to traffic based on their security requirements.
Additionally, you can set up a default Security Profile Group to be used in new security rules, or to override an existing default group. When you create a new Security policy, the default profile group is automatically selected as the policy’s profile settings, and traffic matching the policy are checked according to the settings defined in the profile group (you can choose to manually select different profile settings if desired).
If you have an existing default Security Profile Group, and you don't want that set of profiles to be attached to a new security rule, you can override the default Security Profile Group and select a different profile group.
Use the following options to set up a default Security Profile Group or to override your default settings.
  1. Set up a default security profile group.
    1. Select
      Manage
      Configuration
      NGFW and
      Prisma Access
      Security Services
      Profile Groups
      and add a new security profile group or modify an existing security profile group.
    2. Name
      the security profile group
      default
      :
    3. Select
      Save
      and
      Push Config
      .
    4. Confirm that the default security profile group is included in new security rules by default:
      1. Select
        Manage
        Configuration
        NGFW and
        Prisma Access
        Security Services
        Security Policy
        and
        Add Rule
        .
      2. Select the
        Actions
        tab and view the
        Profile Setting
        fields:
        The new Security policy has the default
        Profile Group
        selected.
  2. Override a default security profile group.
    If you have an existing default security profile group, and you do not want that set of profiles to be attached to a new security rule, you can select a different Profile Group.

PAN-OS & Panorama

Create a security profile group and add it to a Security policy.
To get started, you’ll need to:
  • Add a profile group
    When adding a Security Profile Group to your configuration, begin by providing a descriptive name and optional description to identify the purpose and functionality of the group.
  • Choose your Security Profiles
    Select the security profiles you wish to include within the group. These profiles can encompass various security aspects such as antivirus, antispyware, vulnerability protection, URL Filtering, and more. Customize each selected profile based on specific security rules and threat prevention needs.
    After configuring the profiles, associate the profile group with Security policy rules to ensure consistent and comprehensive threat prevention. Implement this association by editing existing security rules or creating new ones, referencing the Security Profile Group accordingly.
  • Review your Security Profile Group
    Regularly reviewing and updating your Security Profile Groups is crucial to adapt to evolving threats and security requirements. This iterative process involves fine-tuning profile settings and incorporating new threat intelligence to optimize security efficacy. By effectively utilizing security profile groups, you can streamline Security policy management, achieve granular threat prevention, and fortify your network against a wide array of cyberthreats.
Use the following steps to create a security profile group and add it to a security policy.
  1. Create a security profile group.
    If you name the group
    default
    , the firewall will automatically attach it to any new rules you create. This is a time saver if you have a preferred set of security profiles that you want to make sure get attached to every new rule.
    1. Select
      Objects
      Security Profile Groups
      and
      Add
      a new security profile group.
    2. Give the profile group a descriptive
      Name
      , for example, Threats.
    3. If the firewall is in Multiple Virtual System Mode, enable the profile to be
      Shared
      by all virtual systems.
    4. Add existing profiles to the group.
    5. Click
      OK
      to save the profile group.
  2. Add your security profile to a Security policy.
    1. Select
      Policies
      Security
      and
      Add
      or modify a security security rule.
    2. Select the
      Actions
      tab.
    3. In the Profile Setting section, select
      Profiles
      for the
      Profile Type
      .
    4. Select the profiles you want to add to your security rule.
    5. Click
      OK
      to save the security rule and
      Commit
      your changes.

Set Up or Override a Default Security Profile Group

A Security Profile Group streamlines the management and application of security settings, allowing you to apply a set of predefined profiles to traffic based on their security requirements.
Additionally, you can set up a default Security Profile Group to be used in new security rules, or to override an existing default group. When you create a new Security policy, the default profile group is automatically selected as the policy’s profile settings, and traffic matching the policy are checked according to the settings defined in the profile group (you can choose to manually select different profile settings if desired).
If you have an existing default Security Profile Group, and you don't want that set of profiles to be attached to a new security rule, you can override the default Security Profile Group and select a different profile group.
Use the following options to set up a default Security Profile Group or to override your default settings.
  1. Set up a default security profile group.
    1. Select
      Objects
      Security Profile Groups
      and add a new security profile group or modify an existing security profile group.
    2. Name
      the security profile group
      default
      :
    3. Click
      OK
      and
      Commit
      .
    4. Confirm that the default security profile group is included in new Security policies by default:
      1. Select
        Policies
        Security
        and
        Add
        a new Security policy.
      2. Select the
        Actions
        tab and view the
        Profile Setting
        fields:
        By default, the new Security policy correctly shows the
        Profile Type
        set to Group and the default
        Group Profile
        is selected.
  2. Override a default security profile group.
    If you have an existing default security profile group, and you do not want that set of profiles to be attached to a new Security policy, you can continue to modify the Profile Setting fields according to your preference. Begin by selecting a different Profile Type for your policy (
    Policies
    Security
    Security Policy Rule
    Actions
    ).

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