Next Generation Firewall Engineer Certification Guide

The Palo Alto Networks Certified Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) Engineer is a highly crucial and in-demand certification in the ever-changing cybersecurity world, where network borders are disappearing and the risks of digital breaches are increasing day by day.

This certification will help one to demonstrate their advanced knowledge of how to implement, manage, and optimize next-generation firewalls.

This Palo Alto certification guide provides the latest updated information on the Palo Alto's Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) Engineer certification, including its cost, exam details, and career opportunities it provides.

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What is the Next-Generation Firewall Engineer Certification? 

The Palo Alto Networks Certified Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) Engineer certification is a specialist-level certification in network security.

This is designed to validate the skills and expertise of experienced network security engineers and firewall administrators in deploying, configuring, and managing Palo Alto Networks’ NGFW solutions inside network security environments. 

The certification exam tests their knowledge of PAN-OS networking, including device configuration, object and policy creation, integration and automation workflows, and ongoing firewall management.

By earning this certification, professionals can show off their proficiency in building secure, scalable, and policy-driven infrastructures using Palo Alto Networks’ next-generation firewall technology.

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Exam Details  

• Format: Multiple-choice + scenario-based questions  
• Cost: $250 USD  
• Duration: 90 minutes  
• Passing Score: 70%  
• Questions: 60–85 

Target Audience

This certification is intended for network security professionals who are responsible for the installation, deployment, configuration, and ongoing administration of Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) solutions.

Ideal candidates include security engineers, firewall administrators, network engineers, and technical consultants who work in environments where NGFW technologies are central to securing enterprise infrastructure. 

NGFW Engineer Certification Exam Syllabus 

The following is a brief table explaining the domains and the weightage: 

1. PAN-OS Networking Configuration (38%) 

This domain evaluates your ability to configure key networking components within PAN-OS. Candidates are expected to be proficient in setting up various types of interfaces (Layer 2, Layer 3, Virtual Wire, Tunnel, and Aggregate Ethernet), along with proper zone assignments to enforce security policies. It also covers the configuration of High Availability (HA), both in active/active and active/passive modes 

2. PAN-OS Device Setting Configuration (38%) 

This domain focuses on core device-level configurations essential for secure and scalable NGFW operation. Engineers should be able to implement authentication mechanisms, including roles, profiles, and authentication sequences. It includes configuring virtual systems (VSYS), which involves logical partitioning of resources using interfaces, zones, and routers, enabling multi-tenancy on a single device. 

3. Integration and Automation (24%) 

This domain assesses knowledge of deploying NGFWs across different environments, including PA-Series, VM-Series, CN-Series, Cloud NGFW, and AI Runtime Security. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to use APIs for automated deployment and configuration, integrating firewalls with tools like Kubernetes, hypervisors, Terraform, Ansible, and cloud service providers (CSPs). 

Prerequisites  

The following are the prerequisites for this 

1. Proficiency in deploying and managing Palo Alto Networks NGFWs (e.g., PAN-OS configuration, Security Policy creation). 

2. Understanding of TCP/IP, routing, VPNs, and Zero Trust frameworks. 

3. Familiarity with advanced threat detection tools, SSL decryption, and URL filtering. 

4. Experience troubleshooting firewall clusters, analyzing traffic logs, and integrating with third-party security ecosystems.

Also, Read about Top Cybersecurity Tools in 2025

Books and References for Preparation  

For those preparing for the Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) Engineer Certification, Palo Alto Networks offers essential resources like the Certification Handbook, Candidate Agreement, and Certification Program FAQs.

Additionally, "Mastering Palo Alto Networks" by Tom Plen is a valuable book, providing in-depth guidance on deploying and managing PAN-OS 10.x solutions, complete with detailed explanations and GUI/CLI screenshots. This book is particularly useful for professionals involved in setting up, hardening, and troubleshooting Palo Alto firewalls. 

Comparison with Competitors  

The following is a brief comparison with the competitors for this certification: 

NGFW Engineer Job Role and Salaries

NGFW Engineers design and manage firewalls with key responsibilities including access control, threat prevention, and integration. They enforce security policies by application, user identity, and network port.

Additionally, they deploy IPS, anti-spyware, and URL filtering to block malicious activities. Integration involves connecting firewalls with SIEM and SOAR tools for automated security operations.

Salary Expectations  

Is the Certification Worth It? 

Absolutely. As enterprises transition to cloud-first security models and adopt Zero Trust, NGFW engineers are at the core of these transformations. Whether you're securing on-prem data centers, multi-cloud architectures, or remote user access, NGFW certification ensures your skills are recognized and in demand. 

As Palo Alto Networks continues to lead Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for NGFWs, this certification validates critical skills in Zero Trust architecture, SSL decryption, and advanced threat prevention—core competencies for roles like Cloud Security Engineer, SOC Analyst, or Network Security Specialist. 

Certified professionals are highly sought after, with U.S. salaries typically ranging from $110,000 to $160,000. More than just a technical badge, this certification bridges deep, hands-on NGFW expertise with future-forward capabilities like SIEM integration, security automation, and hybrid cloud defense.

A Day in the Life of an NGFW Engineer 

Your day as an NGFW engineer starts with coffee and a glance at your dashboard—hundreds of connections flowing, some routine, others suspicious. You dive into firewall logs, investigate flagged traffic, and fine-tune security policies for a new cloud application. Between managing VPN issues for remote users and testing high availability failover in the lab 

You're also staying alert for IPS triggers or threat alerts via tools like Cortex XDR. In the afternoon, you participate in a red vs blue team simulation, sharpening your incident response skills. Before logging off, you submit a detailed threat report to the SOC manager—just another day protecting the network.  

Summary 

The Next-Generation Firewall Engineer Certification is your gateway to mastering modern firewall technology and becoming a leader in securing hybrid and cloud environments. With a deep focus on application-aware controls, Zero Trust alignment, and AI-powered threat prevention, this certification future-proofs your career in the evolving cybersecurity world.