What is the Default Password for Palo Alto Panorama VM?

The default password for a Palo Alto Panorama VM is admin, which is used in conjunction with the default username, also admin.

Initial Access Credentials

Upon initial deployment of a Palo Alto Panorama virtual machine (VM) on various cloud platforms and virtualization environments, the system is configured with a standard set of login credentials. This applies to the Panorama Command Line Interface (CLI) login across environments such as:

• Alibaba Cloud
• Amazon Web Services (AWS)
• Microsoft Azure
• Google Cloud Platform (GCP)
• KVM
• Hyper-V
• Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI)

Parameter	Default Value
Username	admin
Password	admin

These default credentials allow administrators to gain initial access to the Panorama CLI to begin the configuration process.

Importance of Changing Default Credentials

While convenient for initial setup, using default passwords poses significant security risks. It is a critical security best practice to change the default username and password immediately after the first successful login. Failing to do so can leave your Panorama instance vulnerable to unauthorized access and potential compromise, as default credentials are widely known.

Steps After Initial Login

After logging into the Panorama CLI with the default admin/admin credentials, consider the following essential steps:

1. Change Default Password:
   • Navigate to the configuration mode: configure
   • Set a new password for the admin user: set mpm-admin password (you will be prompted to enter the new password twice).
   • Commit the changes: commit
2. Consider New Administrator Accounts:
   • Create additional administrator accounts with strong, unique passwords and appropriate role-based access control (RBAC) permissions.
   • Delete or disable the default admin user if other administrative accounts are established and secured.
3. Network Configuration:
   • Configure management interfaces, IP addresses, and routing to ensure Panorama can communicate with managed firewalls and other network devices.
   • For detailed guidance on initial setup and security hardening, refer to the official Palo Alto Networks Panorama Administrator's Guide.
4. Software Updates:
   • Ensure Panorama is running the latest stable software version to benefit from security patches and new features.

Implementing these steps helps establish a secure and manageable environment for your network security operations using Palo Alto Networks Panorama.