Network security is increasingly important in an evolving digital landscape. The firewall is the heart of this solution, protecting your business’s critical information from cyber threats.
But with so many types available, how do you choose the right one?
In this article, we look at the eight types of firewalls, their features, and how to choose which one is right for you.
Picture a firewall as a vigilant security guard, ceaselessly monitoring traffic flow to and from your network, always ready to thwart potential threats. This digital protector’s primary role is to form a robust barrier, admitting safe traffic while repelling malicious intruders.
Just like a physical security guard, a firewall’s duties can vary based on the context. In the world of network security, firewalls:
Consider firewalls as the steadfast pillars of network security in the client-server model. They scrutinize both incoming and outgoing traffic to ensure their safety. However, just like humans, they:
Firewalls and technologies like Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) serve as the first line of defense against cyberattacks, shielding your computers and network from malicious or unnecessary network traffic. Moreover, they can thwart malicious software from accessing your system online.
Imagine your workstation without a firewall—it would be like leaving your house’s front door wide open, inviting burglars in. Once your workstation is compromised, so too is your cloud-based data.
Simply put, without a firewall, your data is at risk. A firewall, however, is just one component of a comprehensive and effective network security infrastructure.
There are several types of firewalls, each with its own unique way of protecting your system. Let’s examine five of the most common types of firewalls.
Packet Filtering Firewalls, functioning at critical junctions like routers and switches, examine every packet against established criteria such as IP addresses, packet types, port numbers, and other packet protocol headers. Suspicious packets are typically dropped, not forwarded, and therefore cease to exist.
Circuit-level gateways provide security by monitoring TCP handshakes and network protocol session initiation messages across the network. This checks if the session initiated is legitimate or if the remote system is deemed trustworthy without inspecting the packets themselves.
An Application-level gateway, technically a proxy or proxy firewall, serves as the network’s sole entry and exit point. It filters packets based on various characteristics, including the destination port and the HTTP request string. Although these gateways provide substantial data security, they can significantly affect network performance and be challenging to manage.
Stateful Inspection Firewalls examine each packet while keeping track of whether that packet is part of an established TCP or other network session. This dual function provides more security than packet filtering or circuit monitoring alone but may affect network performance.
A multilayer inspection firewall, a variant of stateful inspection, considers transactions across multiple protocol layers of the seven-layer Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model.
NGFWs combine packet inspection with stateful inspection, often including deep packet inspection (DPI), intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS), malware filtering, and antivirus features. While packet inspection in traditional firewalls focuses only on the protocol header, DPI examines the actual data the packet is carrying, thus enhancing the scrutiny level.
Comparing the pros and cons of the different types of firewalls
Selecting a firewall delivery method can significantly influence your network protection strategy’s security, functionality, and cost-effectiveness. Here’s a concise breakdown of three common firewall delivery methods.
The hardware firewall, also called an appliance firewall, is an independent piece of hardware that manages and filters incoming and outgoing traffic for an entire network. These devices are autonomous, meaning they don’t tap into host devices’ CPU or RAM resources.
While smaller businesses might find these excessive, larger organizations with numerous interconnected computers and subnetworks often find them indispensable.
The software firewall, or host firewall, is installed directly onto a specific device, such as a PC, laptop, or server. Because it protects only the device it’s installed on, administrators must install the software on each device they wish to safeguard. As these firewalls are device-specific, they unavoidably use some system resources, which might be a drawback for certain users.
Cloud-based firewalls, also known as Firewall-as-a-Service (FaaS), are on-demand services delivered over the internet, operating either as IaaS or PaaS.
Managed by a service provider, cloud firewalls are a great fit for distributed businesses, teams with security resource shortages, and organizations lacking in-house expertise.
These firewalls excel at perimeter security like hardware-based solutions but can also be configured per host.
While firewalls and VPNs are both key elements in the arena of network security, they perform their roles in distinctly different ways. Think of a firewall as your network’s doorman, controlling and screening the traffic that comes in and goes out, while a VPN is like your network’s personal invisibility cloak, encrypting your online activities and hiding them from any unwanted gaze.
If you’re employing both a firewall and a VPN, it’s crucial to remember that the VPN should be installed behind the firewall. Why? Because the firewall is akin to the sturdy gate protecting your entire network (including the VPN server) from the vast, often perilous internet.
At times, your vigilant firewall might block certain ports often used by VPNs. If your data tries to pass through one of these blocked ports, the firewall will stand its ground, not allowing it to pass through. This can hinder your VPN communication.
The process of setting up a VPN behind a firewall varies depending on the tools used. However, here’s a general step-by-step guide for setting up a VPN behind a firewall using Google Cloud:
Choosing the perfect firewall isn’t just about ticking off features from a checklist, but it’s about aligning it with what your business aims to safeguard, what resources it can allocate, and how its IT infrastructure is built.
Remember, one size doesn’t fit all here—a firewall that perfectly suits one organization may fall short for another.
Before plunging into the sea of firewalls, it’s essential to have a compass in the form of a clear understanding of your business’s unique needs and context. The following steps will help you navigate this crucial process to select a firewall solution that fits snugly into your business’s landscape.
The first step on this journey is defining your key preferences. Are you hunting for a comprehensive security solution or a dedicated firewall? How much control would you like over the firewall’s configuration? Do you prefer an on-premise solution, or are you open to a cloud-based one? Reflecting on these questions will guide your search in the right direction.
The blueprint of your existing security infrastructure is an essential guidepost. The new firewall should blend smoothly with your current systems and tools, bolstering rather than complicating your security stance. Analyze your network layout, traffic patterns, and potential weak spots to ascertain how the new firewall can best fortify your defense.
Your decision should factor in not just the initial price tag of the firewall but also the recurring expenses for upkeep, updates, and potential add-ons. It’s important to weigh your budget limits against the long-term value you expect from the firewall. Keep in mind the priciest option isn’t always the one that offers the best value for your business.
In an age where cybersecurity risks are constantly escalating, understanding the various types of firewalls and their distinctive features is critical. The choice of firewall can significantly impact your business network’s security, efficiency, and resilience.
Whether it’s packet filtering, stateful inspection, or any of the other firewall types we’ve explored, the right selection hinges on your specific business needs, network infrastructure, and the level of protection desired.
As we’ve seen, firewalls serve different purposes and offer unique advantages, so taking the time to discern your specific requirements will undoubtedly pay off.
Remember, safeguarding your digital assets is not just about implementing a firewall, it’s about choosing the right one.
Are you ready to enhance your network security and boost your business’s resilience with a dynamic firewall solution that offers customized protection? Craving peace of mind in this era of cyber threats? Click here to experience a free demo of Perimeter 81 and discover the benefits of superior threat detection, advanced customization, and seamless integration.
