A firewall inspects traffic entering and leaving your network. Modern “next-generation” firewalls (NGFW) do much more than block ports.

Typical capabilities

– Intrusion prevention

– Web filtering and application control

– Malware scanning

– VPN connectivity

– SSL inspection

– Logging and reporting

Hardware appliances

Physical devices installed on-site. Predictable performance, mature, and widely used. Require licensing for security subscriptions and periodic replacement.

Virtual firewalls

Run as software in a hypervisor or cloud (Azure, AWS). Ideal for protecting virtual and cloud networks.

Cloud-managed firewalls

Physical devices managed through a cloud dashboard. Simplify multi-site deployments, updates, and policy management.

Cloud-delivered security (SASE/SSE)

Moves security functions into the cloud, protecting users wherever they are. Increasingly relevant as staff work remotely and apps move online.

How to choose

– Single office: appliance with security subscriptions

– Multiple sites: cloud-managed firewalls

– Heavy cloud use: virtual appliances or cloud-delivered security

– Remote workforce: consider SASE or zero trust solutions

Don’t forget

– Size for real throughput with security features on

– Keep firmware and subscriptions current

– Review rules regularly and back up configurations

DBR Soft supplies, configures, and manages firewalls for businesses of all sizes. Contact us for more information.