If you’re experiencing an overall higher demand for your network performance, it might be time to look into your firewalls and network security. This could pertain to many focus areas, with increasing throughput demands and device traffic being a few examples.
On another note, it isn’t uncommon for firewall hardware to go through lifecycles. While one firewall may keep you afloat for roughly 3 to 5 years, it’ll eventually be time to consider an upgrade. You also want to remember the difference between end-of-sale and end-of-life dates, as a firewall model’s exit is usually a staggered process.
Nevertheless, assuming your business is preparing for expansion in the future, it doesn’t hurt to review the current state of your network security. This article will discuss core signs of when it’s time to upgrade your company’s firewalls and network security.
Evolving Cyber Security Services
While there is a broad range of services that play into the whole of cyber security, firewalls are a leading topic. As your business continues to grow, the capabilities of your firewall hardware should be able to match network requirements.
The same sentiment goes toward cloud network security. Whether it’s hardware or software, it doesn’t hurt to consider if it’s time for a change in your firewall solutions.
It’s understandable that this sounds like a challenging decision to go through, as there’s an overwhelming amount of firewall tech on the market. One of the best ways to determine if it’s time for an upgrade is by focusing on the several issues mentioned below.
1. End of Life
Regardless of whether it’s a Sophos firewall or another manufacturer’s design, every model will eventually reach its end of life. Even if you stick with a certain model to the very end, you’ll then be forced to upgrade. To avoid any hiccups in your business’s network security, it’s highly beneficial to be a bit more proactive.
Thankfully, manufacturers generally give you years of lead time to figure this out before vendor support comes to a close. Waiting out the end-of-life timeline simply leaves your organization more vulnerable to numerous digital threats.
2. Increased Network Demand
As your business continues to grow, it’s pretty much inevitable that your network will start to experience a heavier load. This can include cloud network security integrations on top of hardware, including the need for remote access and a higher number of devices. Not only can a new firewall support all of those points, but it can also help with the following:
- More flexibility to continue scaling the business
- Improved network speeds
- Enhanced security measures with new models
- Better adaptability to future changes in network demands
Keeping the inevitable at the forefront of your decision-making can help provide some of the clarity you need here. Even if you aren’t 100% sure about where or how you’ll grow, increased network demand is bound to happen.
3. Outdated Security Capabilities
Compatabilities and integrations are an important aspect of firewall technology. Modern firewall solutions are built to work with a web of devices and protocols. It’s common for older firewall models to encounter issues with more modern security protocols. A few leading examples would include deep packet inspection (DPI) and SSL inspection, to name a few.
The last thing you need is for your network to become more vulnerable over time. Staying on top of end-of-life dates, including new releases in firewall tech, is how you stay one step ahead of cyber security threats today and tomorrow.
The Bottom Line
Regardless of how you look at the topic of network security, it should be a priority among the many others in a growing business. Cyber security risks aren’t something that can’t be put on the back burner anymore. This is especially true considering how integrated technology is with every facet of business and our personal lives.
Between cloud network security and the likes of trusted options like Fortinet firewall hardware, you’ll always have plenty to choose from. If you feel like you could use some guidance on upgrading your network security, the Firewalls team offers the support you’re looking for.