PAN-OS Integrated User-ID Agent (Agentless)
The Integrated User-ID Agent is built into the PAN-OS firewall and collects user-to-IP mapping information directly from directory services without requiring additional software installation.
Advantages:
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No need for external agent installation; simplifies deployment.
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Centralized management through the firewall interface.
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Suitable for small to medium-sized environments with fewer than 10 domain controllers.
[Reference]
Considerations:
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Consumes firewall's management plane resources, which may impact performance in larger environments.
[Reference]
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Limited to environments where the firewall can directly communicate with directory services.
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May not support advanced features like credential detection.
graph TD
A[Firewall with Integrated User-ID Agent] --> B[Queries Directory Services]
B --> C[Retrieves User-to-IP Mappings]
Windows-Based User-ID Agent (Agent-Based)
The Windows-Based User-ID Agent is installed on a Windows server and collects user-to-IP mapping information from directory services, forwarding it to the firewall.
Advantages:
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Offloads processing from the firewall, preserving its resources.
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Better suited for large, distributed, or multi-domain environments.
[Reference]
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Supports advanced features like credential detection, enhancing security.
[Reference]
Considerations:
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Requires installation and maintenance of additional software on Windows servers.
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Potentially more complex deployment and configuration.
graph TD
A[Windows Server with User-ID Agent] --> B[Collects User-to-IP Mappings]
B --> C[Forwards Mappings to Firewall]