Which aspect of Palo Alto Networks firewalls helps with compliance monitoring?

Log forwarding plays a crucial role in compliance monitoring for Palo Alto Networks firewalls. By enabling organizations to forward logs to a central log management or SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) system, it allows for comprehensive tracking, auditing, and reporting of security events. Compliance regulations often require detailed logging of actions, events, and configurations to demonstrate adherence to policies and regulations.

With log forwarding, organizations can retain logs for forensic analysis, provide evidence during audits, and maintain a clear trail of activity that can help in demonstrating compliance with industry standards such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and others. This centralized logging capability ensures that all relevant data is readily accessible for review and analysis, thus supporting compliance efforts effectively.

While security policy management, traffic analysis, and virtual systems have their own importance in a firewall's operation and security posture, they do not directly address the continuous monitoring and reporting requirements that are critical for compliance.