Government agencies today navigate a challenging work environment. Their branches need to accommodate the demands of a modern government network, implement Zero Trust security and enhance user experiences for both routine tasks and mission-critical operations. Prisma® SD-WAN has achieved Moderate and High FedRAMP Authorization, providing government agencies with a new option for achieving Zero Trust branch connectivity for a modern, user-friendly government branch.

Imagine a government agency responsible for handling essential services such as tax filings in the new year. Millions of citizens submit their federal and state taxes via online platforms, mail and other methods. Government officials must manage the review and processing of these filings both effectively and securely, ensuring timely responses. This process is vital, as countless citizens rely on government agencies to handle their tax submissions smoothly and securely.

To help meet the needs for efficient, timely and secure processing of the claims, government agencies must:

• Have a network that can flexibly manage the surge in traffic and meet the bandwidth requirements.
• Ensure secure access to and processing of citizen records without risking data breaches.
• Provide continuous access to databases, cloud applications and communication tools to facilitate prompt tax filing and processing.

Legacy network solutions may not be adept at handling these demands on the government network.

Challenges with Legacy Network Solutions

• Rigid multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) architectures: Legacy MPLS systems can be inflexible, costly and lack the scalability required for today’s workforce and bandwidth demands.
• Weak security integration: Disjointed security solutions can increase breach risks and leave sensitive data exposed.
• Poor user experience: Downtime and delays in access to critical applications and fault resolution disrupt operations, impacting the user experience.

Obstacles such as inadequate bandwidth optimization, sluggish network connections, application downtime or data retrieval delays can lead to considerable frustration for both employees and citizens. In addition, the security of sensitive and personal data is critical. These issues can result in inefficiencies, extended wait times and reduced public trust in government operations.

Three Ways Prisma SD-WAN Enables a Zero Trust Branch for Governmental Needs

1. Network Modernization for Branch Transformation

The government is currently seeking to transform its branches with 85% of federal government decision makers expressing a need for network modernization. Prisma SD-WAN can empower the government with scalable and elastic networks, including:

Reliable and Flexible Network Connectivity

Prisma SD-WAN provides secure and reliable connectivity across government branch sites, on-premises data centers and the cloud by combining multiple connectivity services such as broadband internet, 5G, LTE and satellite, allowing government agencies to augment or replace their expensive MPLS WAN environment.

App-Aware Traffic Steering

Prisma SD-WAN facilitates offloading internet and SaaS app traffic from private WAN networks with application-aware intelligent traffic steering. This helps measure, enforce and alert on application performance.

2. Unified Zero Trust Security

Zero Trust security has become a priority in government decision-making, evidenced partly by Executive Order 14028, which places cybersecurity at the forefront of governmental concerns. This order emphasizes the critical importance of modernizing federal government cybersecurity and directs federal agencies to adopt best practices such as implementing Zero Trust architecture.

When combined with Prisma Access, Prisma SD-WAN provides a unified Zero-Trust architecture. Prisma Access has also achieved FedRAMP Moderate and FedRAMP High Authorization.

FedRAMP Moderate and High Authorization

Prisma Access and Prisma SD-WAN work together to provide fine-grained, least-privileged access with deep and ongoing security inspection. This keeps private apps private while protecting all users, devices, apps and data from even the most sophisticated threats everywhere.

Prisma SD-WAN cloud services for the federal government are hosted in dedicated FedRAMP Moderate and FedRAMP High authorized government cloud environments. Built-in security and access controls protect the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the system and its information, ensuring compliance with the FedRAMP requirements for federal and public sector organizations.

3. High-Performing Network Experiences

Executive Order 14058 focuses on enhancing employee productivity and citizen services through seamless, high-performing network experiences.

Prisma SD-WAN provides advanced troubleshooting capabilities with application-level performance insights, end-to-end visibility and event correlation. Network and security incidents are automatically consolidated into a single actionable alert, allowing network administrators to quickly identify and resolve network issues and help ensure uninterrupted operations.

Single Pane-of-Glass Management

Seamless integration of Prisma SD-WAN with Prisma Access brings a single management console, simplified branch site onboarding to Prisma Access, and unified monitoring and resolution capabilities for security and network incidents.

Exceptional User Experience

Native Autonomous Digital Experience Management (ADEM) integration with Prisma SD-WAN branch devices provides segment-wise visibility and insights for user application traffic, improving user satisfaction and boosting workforce productivity.

Transform Branch Networks with Prisma SD-WAN

With Prisma SD-WAN, government agencies can smoothly transition to a modern, secure and efficient branch network that meets current demands and is prepared for future challenges.

Register today to learn about our innovations at Public Sector Ignite 2025.

Visit our website to discover the numerous benefits Prisma SD-WAN offers government agencies and learn how it can enhance their security posture.