Seen as a significant upgrade to traditional firewall technology, next-gen firewalls (NGFW) are a new frontier in network security. The features and capabilities of NGFWs allow them to meet the modern demands of businesses and IT teams.
With benefits like better application layer protection, advanced traffic inspection, and future-proofing, NGFWs bring a lot to the table. As with any firewall technology, there are several different models for companies to choose from.
Navigating the specifications of NGFWs can be challenging, especially if you aren’t exactly sure what you’re looking for. In this article, you’ll gain an understanding of next gen firewalls and what makes them so unique.
What is a Next Gen Firewall?
The main scope of an NGFW is to give users more robust and comprehensive security and network management features. Improved application awareness, overall control, and improved intrusion prevention systems (IPS) are selling points for NGFWs.
Other notable next gen firewall features include:
- Cloud-delivered threat intelligence
- Multi-layered threat protection
- Promises up to layer 7 protection
- Highly adaptable with ongoing security updates
- Easier security management overall
Although this is all very true, it can be hard to see the real value in an NGFW if you aren’t sure how they stack up to traditional firewall solutions. It’s not that older models aren’t worth the time or money, but their overall capabilities may not always meet modern IT demands.
How Next Gen is Better Than Older Model Firewalls
Once you get down to the details, the difference between NGFWs and older models becomes pretty apparent. For example, traditional firewalls generally operate at layers 2 and 4 of the OSI model. As mentioned above, NGFWs operate up to layer 7, and they also make use of dynamic, context-relevant security measures.
NGFWs are also better suited to visualized network environments. This means it can be more effective with more complex cyber attacks and security threats. Next gen firewalls come with more application awareness and threat intelligence integrations. Leveraging external data and cloud-provided intelligence, NGFWs are able to respond to modern cyber security threats much more effectively.
Next Gen Firewalls for Different Use Cases
As you can expect, there are a decent variety of next gen firewall features on the market. Different models are built to meet the unique needs of the user, and they can span companies of small to large sizes and everything else in between. When looking at NGFWs from a business standpoint, you can categorize them based on the size of the business they’re meant to serve.
- Small business firewalls: Generally come with lower ISP speeds, standard security measures, and other benefits like cloud management and configuration support.
- Medium business firewalls: They offer a decent mid-range in ISP speeds, higher throughput, dynamic cloud security, advanced threat protection, and higher Gbps for firewall and VPN
- Enterprise firewalls: Usually more expensive and coupled with robust features, these usually feature much higher ISP speeds, automation features, and detailed network visibility. Expansion modules, unified security controls, and high bandwidth support are also common traits of enterprise-level firewalls.
Of course, your needs in firewall tech will be unique, but there are many firewalls that can easily cover the base needs of any size business. Considering the many NGFWs that are available, it’s important to consider where you find the firewall tech that you’re looking for as well.
Choosing a Next Gen Firewall That's Right for You
While the specifications of each firewall are always important, the provider you work with is an equally important topic. This is not only due to the quality of the products but also because the industry experience and back-end support matter.
In a quick search online, you’ll immediately be flooded with options for NGFWs. These also come from numerous sources, many of which won’t be able to provide the ongoing support and education you want in this space.
At Firewalls.com, we not only have an extremely vast catalog, but we offer all of the education you need to make informed decisions. With thorough specifications for each firewall, you won’t have a hard time aligning the right model with your operational demands.
In Summary
Even if next gen firewall technology is new to you, it’s quickly being regarded as the new standard in corporate network security. Sure, some of it might come with a learning curve, but that’s why working with us at Firewalls.com is a good starting point.
Next gen firewalls deliver capabilities that can withstand the modern cybersecurity environment. If you’re looking to learn more about NGFWs or simply have questions or concerns, Firewalls.com is always happy to help point you in the right direction.