What are the 3 types of firewalls?

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It’s been around thirty years since the concept of a network firewall service was introduced. Since then, network firewalls have been an essential security tool in the arsenal of enterprise network security departments. In essence, a firewall is a tool that filters out malicious traffic before it enters the network security perimeter. Due to its capability, it has proven to be very effective in boosting network security over all these decades. However, the firewall that was developed in the beginning is not the same as the advanced modern firewall available. It has evolved dramatically in terms of capabilities, features, add-ons, and deployment options.

Types

of Network Firewalls

Types of Network Firewalls

There are generally five types of network firewalls, namely:

• Packet-Filtering Firewall: Filters traffic based on IP addresses or port information.
• Circuit-Level Gateway: Processes only requested transactions while rejecting unauthorized traffic.
• Application-Level Gateway (Proxy Firewall): Acts as the sole entry and exit point for network communication.
• Stateful Inspection Firewall: Monitors packets and tracks whether they belong to established TCP or network sessions.
• Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW): Integrates deep packet inspection (DPI) with malware filtering and other controls, overseeing all traffic from Layer 2 through the application layer.

When it comes to delivery and deployment, firewalls can be grouped into three categories:

1. Hardware-Based Firewall
2. Software-Based Firewall
3. Cloud/Hosted Firewall

Hardware-Based Firewalls

These firewalls come as physical appliances that act as secure gateways, regulating traffic between internal devices and external networks. Unlike software-based options, they operate independently of host device resources. Additionally, they’re ideal for medium- to large-sized organizations needing to safeguard multiple devices. However, configuring and managing them requires skilled network engineers.

Software-Based Firewalls

Often referred to as host firewalls, these firewalls are installed on individual devices. Each installation ensures protection against threats targeting the specific host device. However, they rely on the device’s CPU and memory, which can affect performance. Software-based firewalls excel in granular control, enabling communication for certain applications while blocking others. This feature makes them a solid option for protecting individual devices against malware and unauthorized access.

Cloud Firewall / Firewall-as-a-Service

Cloud firewalls, also known as firewall-as-a-service (FaaS), are managed by security providers (MSSPs). These services track internal activities and manage third-party environments on demand. Fully managed cloud firewalls benefit large enterprises with resource gaps and also serve SMEs that lack in-house security expertise.

Many organizations use multiple types of firewalls to ensure comprehensive security, protecting their systems and data from evolving threats.

How to Choose the Most Suitable Firewalls for My Organization

When choosing firewalls, it can be quite confusing to pick one or more of them without any guidance. The firewall that is best for one business makes your selection process easier; consider asking the following questions:

• What technical security objectives should the firewall fulfill?
• How well does the firewall type align with your organization’s architecture?
• Which types of traffic inspections are necessary to meet your security needs?
• Does the firewall offer features such as antivirus, intrusion protection, or VPN capabilities?