Our Guide on Selecting the Best Firewall Security for Your Business

For a business, a firewall plays an important role on two fronts. First, it safeguards the network from intruders. Second, it prevents your employees from accidentally leaking and compromising your data by visiting harmful sites and downloading malicious files on their systems. A firewall acts as a defense barrier between your organization’s network and the outside world. Regardless of the location of your data (whether it is in the data center or the cloud), a firewall can help protect your network and systems.

When it comes to choosing a reliable brand, Fortinet Firewalls are considered the best choice as they deliver cutting-edge enterprise security at all scales while providing full visibility and threat protection. But before looking for one of the best Fortinet distributors in your region, the one thing you should know is that there is no cookie-cutter approach to cater to each client’s unique cyber security needs. Fortunately, there are different types of firewalls and each comes with its pros and cons. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can determine which type of firewall is best suited for your business.

Types of Firewalls

• Hardware Firewall
• Software Firewall
• Hybrid Firewall
• Cloud Firewall

Hardware Firewall

A hardware firewall is a physical device that is positioned between the uplink and the computer. Meaning, the network cable is attached to the firewall instead of the server. Its function is to review all the data coming from the Internet, pass the protected data packets, and block potentially hazardous packets.

With a look similar to a server, this type of firewall requires a skilled professional to do the configuration to enhance the security of the network without affecting performance. That’s why companies that use hardware firewalls require a dedicated IT department or managed IT service provider.  However, it also gives the advantage of monitoring network protection from one single unit.

Software Firewall

As the name implies, this type of firewall is in the form of software that is mounted individually on all devices in a network. Unlike hardware firewalls, software firewalls can distinguish between programs on a device due to which they can allow one program (safe) to run while blocking another (unsafe) program. Besides, they can also filter the ongoing data.

The main drawback of a software firewall is that it needs intensive upkeep as it needs to be mounted, maintained, and upgraded on each device separately.

Combined Firewall

A company can use a combination of different firewalls. However, using different software firewalls can cause conflict and hamper their functioning. Therefore, businesses that are more concerned about their network protection can use several hardware firewalls together, reducing vulnerabilities in each. The only issue is that it requires complex configurations to prevent incompatibility and blocking of desired, safe data.

Cloud Firewall

Cloud firewalls are software-based and cloud-deployed network firewalls that are designed to mitigate or stop any unauthorized access to private networks. These firewalls are designed keeping in mind the needs of modern businesses and they work within an online application environment. So, if you have moved to the cloud or thinking about moving to the cloud, you will also need firewall cloud security. These firewalls provide the same level of secure access as hardware and software firewalls do and manage the flow of information between outside domains and the internal system.

Selecting the Right Type of Firewall for Your Business

Any reputable Fortinet distributor will tell you that the best type of firewall for your company depends on your needs and security concerns and not on which firewall is getting all the hype in the market. If you are running a very small business (or a one-man company) and don’t need to manage sensitive data, the firewall program that comes with your computer might be enough.

However, if you do manage a lot of sensitive data no matter the size of your company, then you will need intense security of advanced firewalls paired with unified threat management solutions. Businesses that host websites should also invest in a load balancer to secure their server in addition to secure their server.

That’s not enough. Take a look at the following tips as you might find them helpful in selecting the right enterprise firewall.

1. Intensive Monitoring: As a firewall essentially monitors traffic to ensure that everything is secure and safe, it must come with a filter for emails that can detect the destination ports or IP addresses. It should also have SSL encryption, virtual private network protection, and web domain blocking if your organization stores confidential information about your customers.
2. Antivirus Scanning: A robust firewall must also come with a built-in antivirus scanner to scan documents, emails, websites, and links to prevent viruses from entering your business network. This way, you might not need to run a separate antivirus for your network protection.
3. Wireless Internet Access Control: An advanced firewall can control wireless internet access connections such as tablets, laptops, smartphones, wireless printers connected to the network, etc. So, if you allow your employees to do work remotely and use these devices for business use, it is a must-have feature.
4. Sandboxing Feature: With this feature, whenever a user clicks on a link, the firewall warns the user by sending a link that opens the file in a virtual environment. With this innovative feature, it blocks the file and stops it from downloading onto the system and hence, prevents malicious content from breaking into the system.

IT Networks Technologies is one of the most trusted Fortinet distributors in the UAE as they provide high-performance security firewalls to deal with highly targeted cyber attacks. If you need help choosing the best Fortinet Firewall for your enterprise or want to buy Fortinet Firewalls,

Author: TechBlonHub

As a passionate blogger, I'm thrilled to share my expertise, insights, and enthusiasm with you. I believe that technical knowledge should be shared, not hoarded. That's why I take the time to craft detailed, well-researched content that's easy to follow, even for non-tech. I love hearing from you, answering your questions, and learning from your experiences. Your feedback helps me create content that's tailored to your needs and interests