Introduction
In the evolving landscape of enterprise applications, traditional firewalls are no longer sufficient to meet the security demands of modern infrastructures. Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) have emerged as a critical solution, offering advanced security features that enhance protection and operational efficiency in both on-premises and cloud environments.
Description
Modern enterprise application stacks require enhanced security measures that traditional firewalls cannot provide [2]. Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) redefine the concept of a firewall, offering fast, energy-efficient security with a 99.98% effectiveness rate [3]. They provide timely protection and proactive defense [3], essential for improving security posture in various scenarios [2], both on-premises and in cloud environments [2].
Recent updates to NGFWs, such as the VM-Series and Cloud NGFW, enhance security and performance while streamlining operations in cloud settings [1]. The VM-Series introduces session resiliency in firewall clusters [1], ensuring high availability and scalability amid dynamic cloud traffic [1], along with virtual systems for traffic and management segmentation in multi-tenant private clouds [1]. Meanwhile, Cloud NGFW for AWS and Azure features deeper integration with Strata Cloud Manager [1], enabling centralized management [1], visibility [1] [3], and compliance across multi-cloud environments [1].
These firewalls support cloud-first [3], security-sensitive enterprises and hybrid workforces [3], ensuring secure access to applications regardless of user location [3]. They deliver visibility into cloud networks and protect business-critical web applications from both known and unknown vulnerabilities [3]. Security experts from SANS and AWS discuss the capabilities and use cases of NGFWs [2], underscoring their critical role in enterprise cloud security and the ability of organizations to scale their security measures effectively without sacrificing simplicity or performance. With a unified platform [3], NGFWs enable rapid security measures from code to cloud [3], enhancing context and visibility across the network [3].
Conclusion
Next-generation firewalls represent a significant advancement in enterprise security, addressing the limitations of traditional firewalls and providing robust protection in diverse environments. As organizations continue to adopt cloud-first strategies and hybrid work models, NGFWs will play an increasingly vital role in safeguarding digital assets. Their ability to integrate seamlessly with existing infrastructure and offer centralized management ensures that enterprises can maintain a strong security posture while adapting to future technological advancements.
References
[1] https://live.paloaltonetworks.com/t5/community-blogs/always-innovating-in-netsec-series-new-innovations-in-atp-and/ba-p/615894
[2] https://www.cybersecurityintelligence.com/blog/increase-security-for-your-enterprise-cloud-with-a-next-generation-firewall-8031.html
[3] https://www.fortinet.com/corporate/about-us/events
