Palo Alto certified Network Administrator

Overview

On Site
Depends on Experience
Contract - Independent
Contract - W2
No Travel Required

Skills

Palo alto firewall admin
rule sets
Saas Security
Cisco switching
wireless infrastructure
core
edge
APs
trouble shooting
communication
analytical
backup
cisco
firewall admin
network administration
network security
regulatory compliance
saas
switches
training
wireless communication
Analytical Skill
Firewall
Documentation
IDS
IPS
Firewall Administration
Information Security Governance
Network
Palo Alto
Mapping
Knowledge Transfer
Management

Job Details

Alert IT Solutions Inc. Awarded Multi-Year, Multi-Million Dollar Contract by State of Illinois for IT Professional Services

 Established in 1994, Alert IT Solutions, Inc. is a trusted leader providing specialized IT project resourcing, and consulting services to government agencies in the State of Illinois. With over 25 years of relevant experience in the Information Technology industry, Alert IT Solutions, Inc. has built enduring relationships with State of Illinois agencies.

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Position Title: Network Administrator (Palo Alto Firewalls)

Location: Springfield, IL or Chicago, IL (Hybrid – initially onsite, then 3 days onsite / 2 days remote)

Duration: 6 months with possibility of extension

Client: State of Illinois

Position Overview

The State of Illinois is seeking an experienced Network Administrator with deep Palo Alto firewall expertise to support ongoing operations. This role involves day-to-day administration, proactive security posture improvements, SaaS visibility, and knowledge transfer to the in-house team.

The ideal candidate will be a Palo Alto “guru” with hands-on experience in managing enterprise firewall environments, coupled with general network administration skills to support Cisco switching and related infrastructure.

We are seeking a hands-on Network Administrator with deep expertise in Palo Alto firewalls and SaaS Security modules to join our team. This role will handle the day-to-day administration of newly deployed Palo Alto firewalls and work alongside existing Cisco-focused network staff.

The ideal candidate is a Palo Alto guru who can manage daily operations, provide knowledge transfer to the internal team, and recommend improvements that strengthen the overall network security posture.

Key Responsibilities

  • Perform day-to-day network administration with a concentration in Palo Alto firewalls.

  • Add/remove firewall blocks, set new rules, and manage content filtering requests.

  • Review firewall configurations and recommend changes to improve security posture.

  • Review IDS/IPS settings to ensure proactive and reactive protection.

  • Monitor firewall logs and analyze events.

  • Administer and monitor Palo Alto SaaS Security modules:

  • Provide insights into unauthorized third-party SaaS applications.

  • Recommend strategies to shut down unapproved usage.

  • Identify unused firewall features and recommend adoption where beneficial.

  • Advise on additional Palo Alto modules that could enhance efficiency or security.

  • Provide knowledge transfer to existing Cisco-focused network staff for cross-training and backup support.

  • Assist with general network tasks when needed (e.g., network drops, RJ45 end replacement, port mapping projects).

Required Skills & Experience

  • 5+ years of hands-on network administration experience.

  • 3+ years of direct Palo Alto firewall administration (rule sets, IDS/IPS, SaaS Security).

  • Strong knowledge of firewall security, log monitoring, and SaaS security governance.

  • Familiarity with Cisco switching and wireless infrastructure (core, edge, APs).

  • Strong troubleshooting and analytical skills.

  • Excellent communication and documentation abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Palo Alto Networks certifications (PCNSA, PCNSE).

  • Prior experience in enterprise or government environments.

  • Strong understanding of compliance and security best practices

 
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