In this era of rapidly growing cyber threats, traditional firewalls are no longer able to maintain optimal security. Now, the shift towards Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) is an urgent need for many companies. NGFW has proven to be the latest solution in dealing with increasingly complex cyber threats.
This article will take an in-depth look at the concept of NGFW, how it works, and the benefits it offers for your business.
What is NGFW?
NGFW (Next-Generation Firewall) is a type of firewall created to provide a higher level of protection than traditional firewalls. Unlike the traditional approach which only filters traffic based on IP addresses and ports, NGFW can examine data content, applications, and even identify and control certain applications.
With this capability, NGFW can detect and prevent more sophisticated security threats, such as malware attacks, exploits, and application-based threats. Additionally, they often come with additional features such as user- or role-based access control, SSL/TLS inspection, and integration with other security solutions to add a more complete layer of security.
What are the Features of the Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) in Preventing Cyberattacks?
NGFW works by using advanced security features to protect networks from more complex threats. Following are some of the main features of NGFW:
Advanced Content Inspection
- Deep Packet Inspection (DPI): Inspects more than just packet headers, analyzing protocols and applications to detect malware, exploits, and anomalies
- SSL/TLS Inspection: Decrypts and inspects encrypted traffic to prevent hidden attacks
- Sandboxing: Executing suspicious code in an isolated environment to identify zero-day malware
Intrusion and Attack Prevention
- Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Blocks known, and zero-day attacks based on signatures and behavioral analysis
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): Protects web servers from SQL injection attacks, cross-site scripting, and others
- Anti-Botnet and Anti-DDoS: Prevent botnet and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks
Application and Content Control
- Application Control: Block or limit the use of certain applications based on security policies
- Web Filtering: Blocks access to dangerous or unproductive websites
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Prevents sensitive data from leaking out of the network
Network Visibility and Analytics
- Flow-based visibility: Provides a comprehensive overview of network activity and threat sources
- Detailed reporting and logging: Helps identify trends and security forensic actions
Additional Features
- Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) VPN: Provides secure, encrypted VPN access
- IPsec VPN: Provides secure site-to-site level VPN connections
- High Availability: Maximize uptime with failover and device clustering
What to Look for in Choosing a Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) Solution?
Choosing the right Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) is an important step in ensuring the security of your company’s network. Various factors need to be considered to choose an NGFW that suits your needs. One of the key factors to consider is the NGFW’s capabilities in breach prevention and advanced security. NGFWs must have the capabilities to prevent attacks and keep your organization safe from cyber threats, as well as be equipped with advanced capabilities to detect and respond quickly to more sophisticated attacks.
In addition, comprehensive network visibility is also an important factor in choosing an NGFW. The ability to view network activity holistically allows for more effective identification and response to cyberattacks. Your NGFW should provide detailed visibility into traffic flows, users, applications, and potential threats.
Flexible management and deployment options also need to be considered. Each organization has unique management and deployment needs, therefore, choose an NGFW that provides management options that suit your needs, whether through centralized or on-premises management. Also ensure that NGFW can be implemented both locally and in the cloud according to needs.
Finally, fast detection times and the ability to automate and integrate with the broader security infrastructure are decisive factors. NGFWs that can detect threats in seconds and can be integrated with other security solutions will help increase the efficiency and responsiveness of your network security.
By carefully considering these factors, Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) is a viable option for improving the security of your corporate network. With advanced features and superior security capabilities, Palo Alto Networks’ NGFW offers powerful protection against an ever-evolving range of cyber threats.
Also read: Traditional Firewall vs Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW): Which is Better for Your Business?
Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW): The Right Solution to Protect Your Network and Important Data from Cyber Attacks
Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) is an advanced and highly effective network security solution designed to protect corporate network infrastructure from an ever-evolving range of cyber threats. As one of the leaders in the information security market, Palo Alto Networks’ NGFW offers superior features and functionality to provide robust protection against the latest and most complex cyberattacks.
By using advanced technologies such as Application Visibility and Control (App-ID), Threat Prevention with Threat Intelligence Cloud, and Advanced Threat Protection (WildFire), Palo Alto NGFW is able to detect and prevent attacks quickly and accurately. This allows companies to reduce risks and maintain their business continuity without being disrupted by cyber threats.
Additionally, NGFW’s ability to perform URL Filtering and Content Inspection, Advanced Threat Protection (WildFire), and Centralized Management and Automation (Panorama) provides the comprehensive visibility, advanced threat protection, and ease of management needed to effectively maintain network security.
Benefits of Using Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) for Businesses
There are several advantages that the Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) has that make it a superior choice for protecting corporate networks:
Advanced Protection
Palo Alto NGFW offers advanced protection against various types of cyberattacks, including zero-day attacks and disguised attacks. With features such as Application Visibility and Control (App-ID), Threat Prevention with Threat Intelligence Cloud, and Advanced Threat Protection (WildFire), this NGFW can detect and prevent attacks quickly and accurately.
Better Visibility and Control
Palo Alto Networks’ NGFW provides comprehensive visibility into network, user, and application traffic. This allows network administrators to better identify threats and enforce stricter security policies, thereby improving overall network security.
Easy Management
Palo Alto NGFW is equipped with Centralized Management and Automation (Panorama) features which enable more efficient network management. Using the Panorama platform, administrators can manage and configure multiple NGFWs from a single location, saving time and resources.
Integration with a Broad Security Ecosystem
This NGFW can be easily integrated with other security solutions and the broader security ecosystem. This enables organizations to build a robust and integrated security infrastructure, thereby improving detection and response capabilities to cyber threats.
With these advantages, Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) is a very effective solution in protecting corporate networks from ever-growing cyber threats.
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Author: Ary Adianto
CTI Group Content Writer
