What’s the Difference Between Next-Generation Firewalls and Traditional Firewalls?
Due to changes in the cyber security landscape, traditional firewalls on the port level are no longer effective at managing traffic. Malicious traffic has the capacity to enter any open port, which provides great risk to firm security. Next generation firewalls work further than port-based firewalls by adding application inspection and intrusion prevention. Next generation firewalls have the ability to scan traffic as it enters and leaves the network, therefore stopping potential threats.
Eze Castle Integration is increasingly implementing Palo Alto next-gen firewalls for our hedge fund and alternative investment firm clients. Palo Alto is not only a next generation firewall but it is also the market leader based upon ratings, support, pricing and overall performance. A Palo Alto firewall has the ability to detect what traffic is doing and immediately stop threats from spreading by distributing protection.
Unknown traffic is analyzed by Palo Alto Wildfire, where new threats are identified and protections are simultaneously developed. Upon the discovery of an unknown threat, the threat is not only blocked but updates are sent to all global subscribers within five minutes to be able to stop them from spreading. Due to this feature each threat and its variants are blocked without having to go through the analysis process again. Through Wildfire information is also fed through a filter which allows for automatic blocking of any correlated threats.
Older port-based models do not detect what traffic is doing, therefore allowing threats to port hop until they find an open port in which they can enter. Viruses are not port specific and can therefore utilize any port. Without analyzing what traffic is doing threats can easily bypass a port-based model.
The current threat landscape is such that security threats are more likely to arise from within your network as opposed to external sources. Internal users opening malicious emails or becoming victims of phishing schemes are now preferred methods for attackers. The next generation capabilities of the Palo Alto firewalls allow for deep application level inspection to detect and thwart these threats from opening backdoors to your network.
Additional Advantages of Next Generation Firewalls
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All-in-one functionality: Next-generation firewalls bundle traditional firewall functionality with intrusion prevention, antivirus and protocol filtering.
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Greater visibility and control: The devices offer granular control by IP address and user for web-based applications and content, as well as legacy apps and content.
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Simplified management: While older firewalls had to be managed individually and configured manually, Palo Alto’s next generation firewalls offer options for simplified management from a single console.
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Better security: Next-generation firewalls scan content to prevent data leakage and stop threats with detailed, real-time traffic inspection. Many provide policy- and role-based security.
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Lower total cost of ownership: Because next-generation firewalls reduce the number of security appliances needed, capital and operating expenses in turn are reduced.
