In Palo Alto firewalls, how are "Sessions" typically defined?

A session in the context of Palo Alto firewalls refers to a single instance of communication between two hosts. This encompasses the entirety of the interaction that occurs during that instance, providing a crucial framework for the firewall to monitor and manage network traffic effectively.

Understanding a session as an individual instance emphasizes how data packets are exchanged between devices, facilitated by established protocols and inter-device communication. Within Palo Alto firewalls, sessions enable the implementation of various security measures, including stateful inspection, which tracks the state of active connections and ensures that only valid traffic is allowed in and out of a network.

This definition is instrumental in a network security context, as it highlights how sessions are tied to specific interactions rather than general user activities, credentials, or logins. By managing these communication paths, firewalls can apply rules and policies effectively to safeguard the network, making the clear definition of a session vital to security operations.