Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) offer a higher level of security than traditional firewalls. They use advanced threat intelligence information to block malware and other online threats.
A key NGFW feature is application awareness, which allows granular controls over what applications are allowed and not allowed to access a network. It can help businesses prevent data breaches and improve their reputations.
Security
Traditional firewalls inspect incoming and outgoing packets to limit the types of traffic that enter and leave a network. They also include some basic protections against malware and application-layer attacks.
Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) go further, using a combination of security technologies to protect against advanced threats. These include threat intelligence, application control, deep packet inspection (DPI), and integrated intrusion prevention systems (IPS).
Unlike traditional firewalls, which only examine port numbers and protocols, NGFWs can identify and monitor the content of network packets to block a broader range of threats. They can also decrypt encrypted traffic streams, allowing them to identify applications and identify whether those applications are safe or harmful.
These capabilities are essential to keep your company safe from the growing threat landscape and to prevent new threats from entering your organization. NGFWs can be implemented as software enterprises install on their servers or delivered over the cloud as a SaaS.
The next generation firewall vs traditional firewall is more efficient and easier to maintain. It integrates security technology and enables unified security management for an entire network, reducing infrastructure maintenance costs and simplifying IT staff workloads. They also offer responsive scalability to adapt to fast-changing business requirements.
Performance
Next-generation firewalls are designed to combat cyber threats in a variety of environments. They can combine hardware appliances and software products that enterprises install on their network servers or deliver over the cloud.
Many security features in next-generation firewalls require processing time, so high performance is essential to avoid bottlenecks. It can be especially true for applications that generate a large traffic volume.
NGFWs can process more layers in the OSI model than traditional firewalls, which can help block attacks at different network layers. It includes layer 7 HTTP traffic, which attackers increasingly use to bypass firewall security policies at Layers 3 and 4.
Aside from processing packets more efficiently, NGFWs also have other capabilities that traditional firewalls lack, including application control and intrusion prevention system (IPS). IPS can detect known and unknown malware by looking at its behavior in the network.
The IPS in a firewall can be either signature-based (matching activity to patterns of known threats) or policy-based (blocking activities that violate security policies). It also can identify anomalies, such as a single user accessing the same application multiple times in a short period.
Several vendors offer software-based IPS solutions for hypervisor-based networks, such as VMware and Microsoft HyperV, virtualized desktop or server environments. These include Sourcefire and Palo Alto Networks, which have been at the forefront of virtualized firewalling.
Management
Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) differ from traditional firewalls in several ways. They are more scalable, easier to manage, and better at securing networks.
NGFWs offer a multi-layered approach to security tailored to every organization’s needs. In addition, they have a range of capabilities that make them ideal for securing various environments, from on-premise to cloud.
For instance, they can inspect traffic from nearly all OSI model layers, allowing them to monitor and control network traffic flow effectively. They also offer application awareness features, enabling them to view packets from their proper context.
These features can prevent advanced threats like malware and worms from getting into your network. They can also help identify threats that are more difficult to detect with traditional firewalls.
This way, they are more effective in protecting your organization against cyber attacks.
A next-gen firewall can also be easily integrated into your existing infrastructure, reducing the time and money spent on maintaining and updating your security appliances. Likewise, many vendors will provide a single dashboard for monitoring and management, making it much easier to keep your network secure.
In addition, many next-gen firewalls integrate with other security tools, such as intrusion detection and anti-virus systems. These solutions often include a security operations center that can centrally control and manage your entire security infrastructure.
Scalability
Next-generation firewalls are a significant advancement in network security. They combine multiple open systems interconnection (OSI) model layers to deliver comprehensive network visibility and protection against advanced threats.
These firewalls are designed to improve performance and efficiency by delivering better inspection and detecting threats in real-time. They can be implemented as a Firewall as a Service (FWaaS), which frees organizations from managing software updates and patches.
Unlike traditional firewalls that see only port and protocol information, NGFWs track Layers 2-7 to perform deep packet inspection. It allows them to distinguish between safe and unsafe traffic.
It can prevent data breaches at the application layer, where attacks are most common. It also helps to keep traffic safe from worms and Trojan horses that might otherwise escape the protection of traditional firewalls.
The NGFWs can differentiate between good and bad traffic in real-time, using third-party threat intelligence feeds and other information from the global network. It can help administrators prevent breaches and implement policy changes quickly.
While NGFWs are highly effective in protecting networks, they are often challenging to scale and require constant updating. It adds to the cost of ownership and is a significant consideration for most companies.
