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Network Infrastructure Magazine | Thursday, April 07, 2022
Firewalls, also known as network security devices, are a critical component of every cybersecurity strategy.
FREMONT, CA: A strong next-generation firewall serves as a critical first line of defense against attacks such as malware, viruses, and advanced persistent threats. However, these solutions frequently comprise highly complicated technology requiring in-depth comprehension and careful supervision.
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While advanced firewall management software provides businesses with many options, actually controlling them and ensuring they perform successfully may be a significant issue.
Indeed, when such deployments fail, the root cause is frequently not with the technology itself but with how it is installed, managed, and maintained. As a result, recognizing the primary problems enterprises might anticipate when shopping for a next-generation firewall and how to overcome them can mean the difference between their investment prospering or their business succumbing to cyberthreats.
Making the best firewall selection
The first step is to choose which firewall is best appropriate for their needs. Numerous options range from basic packet filtering to robust next-generation solutions that include additional capabilities such as intrusion prevention systems and complicated rule management tools.
While it may be tempting to choose the highest-level option to ensure the most level of protection, this is not necessarily the wisest course of action. The more functions their firewall has, the more processing power it will demand, which will affect their network's overall performance.
Simply replacing a traditional firewall with a next-generation solution of comparable scale might potentially cause issues, so consider the requirements carefully. It is not commonplace for large organizations to have multiple firewalls protecting distinct areas of their network to balance cost and performance versus security.
Ensuring that settings are effective
Once enterprises choose a firewall, it's critical to ensure it's set up appropriately. There is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution suitable for all users and apps, so ensure that network segmentation, bandwidth prioritization, and application controls are applied appropriately to different sections of the network.
The more functions firewall has, the more complicated and time-consuming this process will be. It is critical to establish written regulations outlining which services, applications, protocols, and networks should be allowed via the firewall to avoid an out-of-control deployment. This can then be used as a reference during the configuration process.
Poorly configured firewalls can have catastrophic consequences. For instance, the Capital One data breach in 2019 was tracked back to a hacker who targeted a misconfigured web application firewall. The breach affected over 100 million records and cost the organization up to $150 million.
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