Firewalls are standard security tools mostly for all the companies, but as now days changing of the threat landscape, next-generation firewalls are the only ones that provide proper protection.
Next-generation firewalls are the more advanced version of the traditional firewalls, and as they offer the same benefits, like regular firewalls. Next-generation firewalls use both dynamic and static packet filtering and VPN support to ensure that all connections the internet, network, and firewall are valid and secure.
The most apparent difference between them is that NGFW’s ability to filter packets base on the applications. These firewalls have visibility and extensive control of applications that they can identify using signature matching and analysis. They can use the signature base or whitelist IP addresses to distinguish between unsafe applications and safe ones, which are then determined using SSL decryption.
Advantages of Next-Generation Firewall
- Application-level security options such as IPS and IDS
Next-generation firewalls have added the level of application security functions such as intrusion prevention systems (IPS) and intrusion detection systems (IDS)
These features can also analyze, identify, and act against irregular deviations from the standard set of activities, acute attacks, and threat signatures based on user behavior. These applications also help you to improve packet-content filtering.
- Single Console Access
New generation firewalls can be easily accessed from a single console, unlike the case of the traditional firewall where you need to configure and setup the firewall manually.
- Simplified Infrastructure
In traditional firewalls, you need to have a separate security application for every new threat. But with NGFW, you can easily update and manage the security protocol from a single authorized device.
- Multi-Layered Protection
As in traditional firewalls, it can block access through ports, which proves insignificant in the evolving and complex landscape of data architecture.
NGFW offers multi-layered protection by understanding the exact nature of data transfer and inspecting traffic from layer2 to layer 7. So if the data transfer is within the limits of firewall policy, then it will be transfer, or otherwise, it will be blocked.
- Optimal Use of Network Speed
In this case of the traditional firewall, the devices increase, and network speed decreases as the number of security protocols. This happens because the dedicated network speed does not reach to is expected potentials with the increase in services and security devices.
But in next-generation firewalls, you can continuously achieve the potential throughput irrespective of the number of security protocols and devices.
- Antivirus, Ransomware and spam Protection and Endpoint Security
NGFW comes with a complete package of spam protection, antivirus, and Ransomware along with endpoint security to protect your business data. With these types of features, you don’t need any separate tools for these purposes.
- Capability to Implement Role-based Access
In NGFW, we can detect user identity. It can also work with different limits the scope of access for an individual or group and user roles. This type of feature helps the organization to set role-based access to a particular portion of its content and its data.
With this organization can also make some of the data public and
keep the rest of the private information with themselves.
- Key Takeaways
NGFW does not only cover all the necessary firewall features but also more than capable of tackling the modern-day cyber threats with conviction too. With the number of features that NGFW provides, it is becoming a useful technology in the cybersecurity world.
Topmost Vendors for NGFW
- Fortinet FortiGate
Fortinet FortiGate firewalls provide the best security at a reasonable price, which makes them the most accepted firewall vendors and as it is the regular finalist on enterprise shortlist. In the NGFW lab test,the FortiGate firewall got the highest marks for performance, security effectiveness, and value.
- Palo Alto Networks PA Series
Palo Alto Networks isn’t cheap but offers NGFWs with the performance that top all comers, robust security, and breadth of features to match.
- Forcepoint NGFW
This firewall might set you back a little more, but you get the best-in-class performance and security for your money. Top-notch R&D has produced features such as detection engines resistant to the powerful centralized management console and evasion techniques.
- Cisco Firepower NGFW
Cisco’s biggest strength must be the breadth of security services it offers with its firewall. Among them advanced malware protection, intrusion prevention, URL filtering, Cloud base Sandboxing, email security, web gateway, network access control, network traffic analysis, and CASB. However, this broad protection coms with the above-average price.
- Barracuda F-Series
Not all NGFW vendors provide strong cloud support. Still, it is the area where barracuda shines: with the help of Azure, Google Cloud, AWS, and VMware VCloud Air, the company’s cloud capability isexcellent and robust VPN features supports to distribute office use cases.