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Azure Monitor vs Palo Alto Networks

Azure Monitor logo

Azure Monitor

Software

Azure's Monitoring and Diagnostics Service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Palo Alto Networks logo

Palo Alto Networks

Software

Enterprise cybersecurity platform

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Azure Monitor has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Azure Monitor billed per GB ingested across three separate log plans, Auxiliary, Basic and Analytics, so the plan chosen changes the rate as much as the volume does; Palo Alto Networks enterprise-focused pricing model
  • They diverge on capability: Azure Monitor covers Log collection, Palo Alto Networks covers Advanced threat prevention.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Azure Monitor and Palo Alto Networks actually diverge.

Attributes where Azure Monitor and Palo Alto Networks differ
AttributeAzure MonitorPalo Alto Networks
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelusage-basedsubscription
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsWeb, ApiCloud, On-premises, Hybrid
Founded20102005

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Azure Monitor

  • Log collection
  • Metrics collection
  • Alerts and notifications
  • Custom dashboards
  • API
  • Webhooks
  • REST
  • Api support

Only in Palo Alto Networks

  • Advanced threat prevention
  • Threat detection and response
  • Cloud security
  • Endpoint protection
  • Network security
  • API protection
  • Incident response
  • Threat intelligence

Both cover

  • Web support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Azure Monitor

  • Collecting logs and metrics from Azure resourcesnot Palo Alto Networks
  • Alerting on metric thresholds and log queriesnot Palo Alto Networks
  • Application performance monitoring through Application Insightsnot Palo Alto Networks
  • Long-term log retention for compliancenot Palo Alto Networks
  • Querying operational data with KQLnot Palo Alto Networks

Palo Alto Networks

  • Enterprise network security and threat protectionnot Azure Monitor
  • Cloud-native application protectionnot Azure Monitor
  • Identity and access securitynot Azure Monitor
  • Security operations and incident responsenot Azure Monitor

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Azure Monitor

  • Billed per GB ingested across three separate log plans, Auxiliary, Basic and Analytics, so the plan chosen changes the rate as much as the volume does
  • Only the first 5 GB a month of Analytics logs is free per billing account
  • Retention beyond the base period is charged per GB per month, up to 2 years interactive and 12 years long term
  • Log queries and search jobs are billed per GB scanned, so investigating an incident costs money
  • Alert rules are billed per time series for metrics and by execution frequency for logs
  • The pricing page shows placeholders rather than rates until a region and currency are chosen

Palo Alto Networks

  • Enterprise-focused pricing model
  • Complex implementation required

Pricing, plan by plan

Azure Monitor

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Log collection
    • Metrics collection
    • Alerts and notifications

Palo Alto Networks

On request
  • Enterprise$undefined/year
    • Threat prevention
    • Detection and response
    • Cloud security

Which should you pick?

Choose Azure Monitor if

  • You need log collection.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Api.
  • You also want metrics collection.
Azure Monitor review

Choose Palo Alto Networks if

  • You need advanced threat prevention.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want threat detection and response.
Palo Alto Networks review

Questions people ask

Is Azure Monitor or Palo Alto Networks better?
Neither clearly leads. Azure Monitor starts at Free and Palo Alto Networks at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Azure Monitor or Palo Alto Networks?
Azure Monitor has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Azure Monitor and On request for Palo Alto Networks.
Does Azure Monitor or Palo Alto Networks run on more platforms?
Azure Monitor runs on Web, Api. Palo Alto Networks runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
Can I use Azure Monitor for free?
Yes. Azure Monitor has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Palo Alto Networks starts at On request.
What is Azure Monitor best used for?
Azure Monitor is most often used for collecting logs and metrics from azure resources, alerting on metric thresholds and log queries, application performance monitoring through application insights, long-term log retention for compliance. Of those, collecting logs and metrics from azure resources and alerting on metric thresholds and log queries are not what Palo Alto Networks is typically brought in for.
What can Azure Monitor do that Palo Alto Networks cannot?
Azure Monitor covers Log collection, Metrics collection, Alerts and notifications, Custom dashboards. Palo Alto Networks covers Advanced threat prevention, Threat detection and response, Cloud security, Endpoint protection. Both handle Web support.
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