Best Firewall Solutions for 2024:
A Comprehensive Overview
For on-premises, cloud networks, and even hybrid use cases, sourcing the best firewall solutions can be somewhat of a challenge. Part of this comes from the fact there are so many options available. Finding exactly what your business needs requires getting down to the details of relevant firewall options on the market.
The versatility of firewall technology ranges from virtual applications, hardware, data centers, cloud controls, and much more. For this article, you’ll get a detailed overview of popular firewall solutions for 2024.
What is the Best Firewall for Enterprise?
This is a loaded question, considering that great firewalls are a combination of manufacturer quality and personal needs. You can help streamline your search by starting with some of today’s most reliable firewall manufacturers.
When it comes to a business environment, you want a robust firewall solution that can universally meet your needs. Having this technology in place can offer numerous security benefits, some of which include:
- Preventing unauthorized access to business data
- Keep harmful files out of your infrastructure
- A leading solution for enterprise-level antivirus
- May come bundled with VPN options
The best enterprise firewall comes down to the unique needs of your organization. By having an understanding of reliable manufacturers in this space, you can lead yourself to the firewalls that make the most sense. Let’s take a look at the industry’s leading firewall manufacturers; SonicWall, Fortinet, WatchGuard, and Sophos.
SonicWall
A leading choice in the realm of next-generation firewalls (NGFWs), SonicWall is built to support network security for businesses of all sizes. This includes on-premise and cloud solutions, with a wide range of unique firewalls to choose from.
Hailed as one of the most reliable firewall solutions you could opt for, SonicWall focuses on security, control, and visibility. From intrusion prevention to content filtering and much more, there’s more than enough variety in their product lineup.
You’ll also want to consider their Gen 7 NGFWs. These boast improvements in areas such as network stability, consistent performance, and threat protection. Specific features such as stateful high availability and power supply redundancy help with these improvements. Their focus on the total cost of ownership can be seen in SD-WAN and DPI-SSL integration. In short, this has allowed them to enhance security benefits as well as cost efficiency.
Fortinet
With thorough security and performance, Fortinet is capable of promising firewall technology. Utilizing FortiGate NGFWs, businesses can protect data and digital assets across a hybrid environment. This comes with the guarantee of efficient threat protection, which is powered by AI-driven FortiGuard services.
Looking at the details of the technology, you’ll discover their proprietary ASIC-based processors. This is to improve speed, energy efficiency, and scalability. This is backed by their claim of having 17x faster performance and 62% less energy consumption compared to competitors.
Other notable aspects of Fortinet NGFWs and related services include:
- Scalable solutions for data centers
- FortiOS integration for uniform security and networking
- Centralized control for simple operations in FortiManager
- Threat intelligence powered by AI for more proactive and streamlined solutions
Fortinet is a diverse manufacturer of firewalls, and they’ve found their way into numerous global industries over the years. Although they have plenty of data to back up their reliability, there are many other solutions that stand out for a reason.
WatchGuard
Widely known for their Firebox firewalls, WatchGuard is a notable contender among other manufacturers. Although they may offer many features similar to those of others in this article, they also come with some unique integrations, services, and capabilities.
Part of what makes them one of the best firewall solutions on the market is their approach to simplifying management. This is found in their Unified Security Platform and WatchGuard AuthPoint. At a glance, these services integrate network tools into a single system while supporting multi-factor authentication and cloud-native endpoint security.
Businesses also get the benefit of cloud-managed Wi-Fi and centralized management. Stemming from the WatchGuard Cloud, centralized management offers detailed visibility, control, and optimized security.
Sophos
Next-gen firewall protection is to be expected from Sophos. A manufacturer that’s equally known for some of the best firewalls, they go beyond surface-level network solutions. Sophos has a focus on optimization for encrypting internet traffic, automated threat response, and more. The threat response is integrated with Sophos MDR and XDR. This prevents lateral attack movement and blocks active threats.
Other key details about what the manufacturer brings to the table include:
- Built-in Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) for secure remote access
- Multiple high-speed connectivity options from Wi-Fi, PoE, and more
- High-performance architecture offering customizable policies and deep packet inspection
Sophos is a great solution for a diverse workforce and definitely does a lot more than the basics of network security. By being able to optimize and accelerate network access on-site and for remote workers, Sophos is hailed as a first choice for many organizations.
The Bottom Line
Sourcing the best firewall for your business can feel like a daunting endeavor, but it doesn’t have to be. Many firewall manufacturers have worked to minimize the learning curve while providing scalable, long-term networking solutions.
Considering the reality of cyber security and a digitally reliant corporate world, it never hurts to start looking for the best firewall solutions available. In any case, if you’re feeling lost in your search for relevant firewall products, you can find them all in one place in our extensive catalog.
Our certified security experts can help you find the right firewall for your business! Give us a call at 317-225-4117.