The firewall has traditionally been the last line of defense in protecting networks from outside threats, but even as cyberattacks become increasingly more complex and prevalent, it’s also possible that your firewall may be more vulnerable than you think.
It’s important to note that next-generation firewalls are designed to protect not only against external attacks but also against a wide range of threats. This includes those operating at the application layer, and are protected in real-time regardless of a variety of factors, such as port, protocol, evasive tactics, and SSL encryption.
There are many advantages of next-generation firewalls over traditional firewalls, continue reading below to know about the various benefits they offer.
Multi-Layered Protection
The traditional firewall is single-layer protection that blocks incoming attacks. A next-generation firewall uses multi-layered protection to monitor and block threats as they happen.
This can help prevent catastrophic data loss, downtime, and financial losses. Plus, next-generation firewalls are more mobile and flexible than traditional firewalls which allows them to be installed on the network or an endpoint device such as a laptop or phone.
A next-generation firewall includes an intrusion detection system (IDS) and an intrusion prevention system (IPS), which analyze traffic behavior, threat signatures, or abnormal activities to detect attacks. This feature helps you inspect deeper network traffic and improves packet filtering.
Enhanced Visibility
Next-generation firewalls are more robust than traditional firewalls. That’s because the next generation can detect malicious activity and block it before it affects your network.
This is in contrast to the traditional firewall, which would only detect a problem when something happens. This means that next-generation firewalls can help you avoid data breaches and other security issues that could compromise your organization’s sensitive information.
Antivirus, Ransomware, and Spam Protection
Traditional firewalls are often not able to protect against next-generation threats, such as antivirus, ransomware, and spam. One reason for this is that the firewall only inspects the packets that are traveling to or from a network interface, which leaves a lot of potential vulnerabilities unguarded.
In contrast, next-generation firewalls create an isolated virtual environment for all network traffic passing through them. This means that it can detect and block intrusions in real time.
High Network Speed
It can be difficult to find the right balance between security and speed, especially when it comes to internet connections. Fortunately, next-generation firewalls are designed with both speed and security in mind.
These new firewalls do a better job of protecting against threats without slowing down your network or internet connection. Whether you opt for one or many security services, NGFWs ensure steady throughput. You don’t have to sacrifice speed or quality to get good security.
Simple Infrastructure
A next-generation firewall is typically an appliance that sits in front of your network. It allows you to filter traffic before it enters the network, not just after it’s inside. This gives you greater control over how traffic flows into and out of the network, which makes for a more secure environment.
The appliance can be managed remotely and has a central point for monitoring all activity on the appliance. This firewall will help you save time while dealing with day-to-day activities for your firm, and it will also simplify administration and upgrade security protocols.
Capability to Easily Implement Role-based Access
Role-based access is one of the more powerful features that next-generation firewalls have over traditional firewalls. This allows the firewall to be programmed for different types of users, and to restrict access to certain areas depending on what type of user is accessing it.
By using Network Firewall with Advanced Threat Protection, you can establish role-based access, which allows you to adapt network access to the needs of each employee.
Single Console Access
A major benefit to next-generation firewalls is that they are designed to be installed and configured on a single device. Next-generation firewalls enhance user experience by offering intuitive interfaces and easy navigation. Their dashboards provide a clear overview of your network and its vulnerabilities. By leveraging artificial intelligence, these firewalls reduce false positives and detect new threats before they infiltrate the system.
As mentioned, next-generation firewalls deliver robust security features while ensuring a seamless user experience at no additional cost. The development team continuously innovates with updates and new features to stay ahead of cybercriminals.
Cost-Effective in the Long Run
Traditional firewalls can be expensive and challenging to maintain. If a conventional firewall gets compromised, system administrators must invest significant time and money to resolve the issues.
Next-generation firewalls include built-in protection against attackers, making them more cost-effective over time. Their design minimizes the risk of compromise, ultimately saving resources.
Conclusion
The key differences between next-generation firewalls and standard versions include additional security layers, bandwidth monitoring of network access, and intrusion detection systems. These features highlight that next-generation firewalls provide effective solutions for improving IT security. If you need assistance in selecting the right traditional or next-generation firewalls for your network, contact us.