Firewalls have been around for a good while now, providing the ability for organizations to secure network perimeters.
However, we are challenged by more sophisticated attacks in recent years, so we would need a more dynamic approach to firewalls to protect against these attacks.
This is where next-generation firewalls come into play. In this article, we will learn everything about these modern tools, their benefits, and some of the top brands providing this service.
Introduction To Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW)
Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) is a cutting-edge technology that aims to overcome the limitations of traditional firewall solutions.
While traditional firewalls are simply gatekeepers, NGFWs are intelligent tools that have various features to tackle complicated cyberattacks and detect sophisticated threats.
NGFWs come with a more dynamic approach to threat detection and response with the use of advanced technologies.
In a world where digital risks get more apparent each day, implementing NGFWs in 2023 becomes vital for organizational security.
Key Features Of NGFWs
What about the key features of NGFWs? What makes them so much better than traditional firewalls? Let’s have a look at the advanced features next-gen firewalls offer to answer these questions.
Deep Packet Inspection (DPI)
Deep Packet Inspection allows NGFWs to analyze data packets in detail and identify everything from applications and protocols to specific users and their behaviors. This enhances the threat detection capabilities of the firewall.
Application Awareness
NGFWs are able to detect different applications even if they use the same port number. This allows IT admins to implement application-specific policies for improved security on a private network.
Intricate User Identification
This feature is usually achieved through Single Sign-on implementation. SSO enables next-gen firewalls to regulate access based on user profiles. It is an essential feature to have when using a least-privilege approach for internal access control.
The Evolving Landscape Of Cyber Threats
As we see the advancement of technology in different fields, we also recognize cybercriminals looking for new ways to exploit unknown vulnerabilities. These new threats target personal privacy, valuable data, and infrastructures.
Ransomware attacks, for example, have become incredibly common and crippling for organizations.
They result in hefty ransoms and disrupted operations as they directly target company devices.
What’s worse is that the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) significantly increased the number of vulnerable devices to such attacks.
Social engineering tactics are also common in today’s threat landscape. Attackers use human psychology to get their hands on credentials, breach defenses, and exploit end-users.
It’s important to remember that with the exponential increase in data stored by organizations, breaches are now more dangerous than ever, and may have severe consequences.
Benefits Of Implementing NGFWs In 2023
With the real and significant threats we mentioned above, following firewall best practices and implementing NGFWs in 2023 brings a set of benefits to enhance the security of a network.
Firstly, NGFWs provide great visibility into the network traffic and users. Insights gathered from the firewall can act as a proactive measure and reduces the risk of a data breach.
Secondly, NGFWs simplify the communication between different security services and facilitate security management.
Consolidating intrusion detection, prevention systems, and application awareness minimizes the complexity of managing different solutions, and gives you a clearer control mechanism.
Moreover, the detailed user and application access permissions provide granular control over the network.
Using NGFWs, organizations can prevent unauthorized access by enforcing specific policies based on users and applications.
Top NGFW Picks For 2023: Brands To Watch
The NGFW market is dynamic and growing constantly, but there are a few brands that stand out in 2023.
Cisco Firepower
Known for its improved threat intelligence capabilities, Cisco Firepower is able to integrate with the remaining Cisco ecosystem perfectly for a seamless user experience and enhanced security.
It also offers advanced features such as machine learning-based anomaly detection and automated threat response.
Palo Alto Networks
With its NGFW solutions, Palo Alto Networks maintains its leadership position. These products enable high-performance application visibility and management, as well as integration with their cloud-based security platform for uniform protection across on-premises and cloud settings.
NordLayer
NordLayer distinguishes itself from its competitors with a focus on strong encryption and simplicity.
It offers a Software-Defined Perimeter (SDP) solution that ensures zero-trust access, making it a valuable asset in safeguarding networks against unauthorized access.
Its integration with the NordVPN ecosystem brings additional layers of privacy and security to the network.
Comparison: Traditional Firewalls vs. NGFWs
Let’s say it from the beginning: this comparison has a clear winner.
The comparison between Traditional Firewalls and Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) underscores the evolution of network security strategies in response to the evolving threat landscape.
While traditional firewalls adopt a more static approach by only relying on port numbers and protocols.
This prevents traditional firewalls to detect the nuances that are present in modern cyberattacks, thus making them unable to block such traffic.
They simply lack the granularity to inspect encrypted traffic. While they are still okay for simple networks, they fail against sophisticated attacks.
On the other side, NGFWs bring about a paradigm change with user identity, application awareness, and deep packet inspection.
They provide accurate access restrictions and thorough threat detection by analyzing content and context to make intelligent judgments.
Their defenses against new hazards are further strengthened by their connection with threat intelligence streams.
Deployment Scenarios: When To Opt For NGFWs
There are several scenarios where implementing NGFWs would prove beneficial.
But mainly, organizations that operate in complex environments such as cloud services would benefit from NGFW’s adaptability and visibility.
Secondly, high-risk sectors such as financial institutions may find NGFW’s threat detection and user identification features critical for their operations.
It is also good to point out that when businesses grow, the scalability of NGFWs becomes incredibly helpful.
But overall, when facing emerging threats and sophisticated cyberattacks, next-gen firewalls are essential tools as they are more dynamic and capable of detecting potential risks.
Although we provided some specific scenarios, NGFWs are beneficial for virtually all sizes and types of businesses.
Considerations For Future-proofing with NGFWs
Future-proofing with NGFWs takes great planning and strategic considerations. First of all, scalability ensures that the solution is able to keep up with your growing business needs.
Integration with the existing infrastructure is also critical for seamless operations and bulletproof security.
Besides these, look for solutions that have flexible deployment options – on-premises, cloud, or hybrid. This will be helpful when adapting to changing business environments.
Also, look for vendors with a good reputation and frequent updates. Lastly, make sure the NGFW of your choice has advanced threat detection so you will always be capable of responding to future threats.
