The new Plugin Bundling feature fundamentally changes the upgrade process by automating plugin management. Previously, you had to manually compare and download plugins to ensure they were compatible with the PAN-OS version. This process was prone to errors that could lead to network outages and data loss, such as overwritten VPN pre-shared keys.

By bundling compatible plugins directly with the base image, this feature eliminates the risk of version mismatches and preserves your configurations. When you upgrade, the system automatically downloads the correct plugin versions, so you no longer have to manually download them. This ensures a seamless and conflict-free update.

The Plugins interface now provides a single location to manage all bundled plugins. The interface displays and sorts plugins, allowing you to easily install the ones you need. If you have the required license, you can manage Cloud Services in a separate, dedicated section.