Protecting your business from cyber threats is more important than ever. Network firewalls serve as a critical line of defence, shielding your network from unauthorised access and malicious attacks.
Choosing the right firewall solution is essential for ensuring your business’s security, especially with the increasing complexity of cyber threats. Whether you’re a small business with modest network needs or a large enterprise requiring extensive protection, understanding how to select the appropriate firewall can significantly enhance your cybersecurity posture.
This guide will outline the key considerations to help you make an informed decision and choose the best firewall solution for your business.
Assess Your Business Size
The first step in choosing the proper firewall is understanding your business’s size and network requirements. It’s important because different businesses have varying levels of data traffic and security needs.
Small and Medium-Sized Businesses (SMBs)
- Lower Throughput Needs: SMBs typically generate less network traffic than larger enterprises. Throughput, which refers to the amount of data a firewall can handle without causing delays or latency, is a crucial consideration. For SMBs, a firewall with lower throughput capabilities might be sufficient.
- Cost-Effective Solutions: Smaller businesses often have limited budgets for it security services. Therefore, selecting a cost-effective firewall that provides essential protection without unnecessary features can be an intelligent choice.
Large Enterprises
- Higher Throughput Needs: Large enterprises usually have more extensive network traffic and require firewalls with higher throughput capabilities. It ensures that the firewall can manage high volumes of data without slowing down network performance.
- Advanced Features: To protect against sophisticated cyber threats, enterprises may need firewalls with advanced features such as intrusion prevention systems (IPS), virtual private network (VPN) support, and deep packet inspection (DPI).
- Scalability: As large businesses grow, their network requirements evolve. A scalable firewall solution that can expand with the business is crucial to maintaining adequate security over time.
Corporate Data Centers:
- Significantly Higher Throughput Capabilities: Data centres handle vast amounts of data and require firewalls to process this information quickly and efficiently. Choosing a firewall with high throughput capabilities is essential to avoid performance bottlenecks.
- Robust Security Features: Data centres often host critical business applications and sensitive data. Therefore, they need firewalls with robust security features to protect against cyber threats.
- Redundancy and Reliability: Data centres must ensure continuous protection and minimal downtime. Firewalls with high availability (HA) and redundancy features help maintain network security even during hardware failures or maintenance.
Consider Your Business Distribution
The traditional model, in which all employees and IT infrastructure are on-site, is rapidly evolving. With the rise of remote work and cloud-based services, your firewall needs may have changed. A hardware firewall at the headquarters might not be the most efficient choice for businesses with a remote workforce.
Cloud-based firewall-as-a-service (FaaS) solutions protect your organisation’s assets and users, regardless of location. These solutions can be deployed quickly and provide both security and an optimal user experience for accessing cloud applications and the internet. This flexibility benefits businesses with multiple locations or a significant remote workforce.
Decide Between In-House or Managed Firewalls
Firewalls need regular updates and constant monitoring to stay effective. Managing them in-house means you have complete control and can customise settings to your specific needs. However, this requires a skilled IT team and can take time and resources, potentially taking focus away from other essential tasks.
If your business lacks the expertise or time to manage firewalls effectively, using a managed firewall service might be a better option. Managed security service providers (MSSPs) offer expert firewall management, including setup, monitoring, and incident response.
They ensure your firewall is constantly updated and working correctly. Managed services can be cost-effective and provide robust security without overburdening your team. MSSPs also offer scalable solutions that can grow with your business and provide 24/7 monitoring and support to address any security issues quickly.
When choosing between in-house and managed firewalls, consider your budget, security needs, and the required flexibility. In-house management can be costly and demanding, while managed services offer expert help and can be more affordable overall. Assessing your business’s needs will help you decide how to keep your network secure and efficient.
Focus on Threat Visibility and Usability
Businesses often use multiple security tools to protect their networks. While this can cover many threats, it can make monitoring and managing security more difficult. Dealing with different systems can slow response times and make it harder to see the big picture.
Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) solve this problem by combining threat visibility and policy management into one easy-to-use console. This integration simplifies monitoring the network and responding to security alerts quickly. With all the data in one place, your team can quickly spot and deal with threats.
NGFWs offer real-time network traffic analysis, helping identify suspicious activities and provide clear insights into potential security issues. That makes it easier to take quick action and prevent problems before they escalate.
These firewalls also have advanced features like intrusion prevention, deep packet inspection, and application awareness. These tools help detect and block sophisticated attacks, offering better protection than traditional firewalls. Their user-friendly interfaces make setting up and managing security policies straightforward.
Identify Protected Devices
Modern business IT architectures are diverse, often comprising on-premises systems, cloud applications, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Each of these components introduces unique security challenges and requirements.
When choosing a firewall, ensure it can effectively protect all your assets. A suitable firewall should offer specialised functionality for IT, OT (Operational Technology), IoT, and cloud environments. Understanding the specific types of traffic generated by these devices and selecting a firewall that can secure them is essential for comprehensive protection.
Takeaway
Take the next step in securing your business today. Consult a cybersecurity expert to evaluate your security measures and get personalised recommendations for the best firewall solution. Don’t wait until it’s too late – ensure your business is protected with the proper firewall.
