What types of issues can be identified through "traffic logs" in a Palo Alto Networks firewall?

Traffic logs in a Palo Alto Networks firewall provide detailed visibility into the data passing through the network, and they are instrumental in identifying bandwidth usage and potential security threats. These logs capture vital information about each traffic session, including source and destination IP addresses, applications, users, and the amount of bandwidth consumed. By analyzing this data, network administrators can detect unusual patterns or spikes in bandwidth usage, which might indicate a security threat such as a denial of service attack, malware communication, or other unwanted activities.

Furthermore, traffic logs can help identify applications that are consuming excessive bandwidth, enabling organizations to optimize their resources, enforce quality of service policies, or block specific applications that are deemed unnecessary or harmful. The visibility provided by traffic logs is essential for maintaining both performance and security within the network environment.

Other options, while related to network administration, do not align with the specific information and capabilities provided by traffic logs in a firewall context. For example, network hardware failures would typically be identified through monitoring systems or alerts specific to hardware components, while software compatibility issues usually arise during application deployment or updates—both of which are not detectable through traffic logs. User login attempts may be monitored through different logs focused on authentication rather than traffic flow.