Network firewalls are one of the more tireless network security solutions a company can employ. They’re the first and foremost security measure in place that fights off known and unknown threats. Each and every connection to the internet can be an attack vector for threat actors. Having a robust network firewall in place mitigates these potential attack vectors.
How network firewalls work is they essentially just block any unauthorized access to private networks. Only traffic that has been approved can bypass the network firewall, determined by pre-set and pre-configured policies. These policies can also dictate how monitoring and remediation function. Network firewalls provide deep packet inspection on both inbound and outbound network traffic to ensure nothing harmful enters the network and nothing important or something that shouldn’t be leaving the network leaves the network.
Beyond this, network firewalls can offer different features, depending on whether they’re hardware or software (or cloud-based). In this article we’ll compare the top firewall vendors and solutions, summarizing their main features and benefits to help your organization find some of the best firewalls for them.
Barracuda is a leading IT security company based in Campbell, CA, USA. Barracuda’s recommended firewall solution, CloudGen Firewall, offers next-gen firewall technology that defends your network against threats in real-time. It is highly efficient at blocking well-known and zero-day threats, and can prevent SQL injections, cross-site scripting, denial of service attacks, trojans, viruses, spyware, and more. As it is cloud-based, the CloudGen Firewall is highly deployable across physical locations as well as servers such as Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud Platform.
Barracuda CloudGen Firewall Features
- SSL interception through application of IPS, virus protection, application control, URL filters and advanced threat protection to SSL-encrypted traffic
- URL filter categories
- Intrusion detection and prevention capabilities
- DNS sinkholing technology that enables deep packet inspection, DDoS/DoS protection, and botnet and spyware protection
Pricing: Pricing is supplied via a quotation request.
Expert Insights Comments: Overall, Barracuda’s CloudGen Firewall is an easily deployable, comprehensive firewall that offers a full stack of high-tech capabilities that help defend your network from a wide range of network threats, exploits, and vulnerabilities. It is highly adept at blocking known and zero-day threats. It can easily defend against more complex threats such as DDoS, trojans, viruses, worms, spyware, and cross-site scripting–to name a few. Customers have noted the firewall solution for its intuitive and user-friendly UI. Overall, Barracuda’s solution is a strong, robust one that can be time consuming and difficult to deploy and configure; we would recommend this solution for enterprises and MSPs.
From Californian-native Check Point is its Next Generation Firewall, Check Point Quantum, which offers highly scalable, flexible, and strong network security for all your company’s endpoints, networks, cloud, data center, and remote users. It combines SandBlast threat prevention, unified management platform, VPN, and IoT security to deliver round-the-clock security and threat prevention. The platform is highly scalable and easy for admins to configure and manage.
Check Point Quantum Features
- Sandboxing feature, anti-phishing, anti-virus, and anti-bot capabilities
- Able to be integrated with third-party NACs and analytics systems meaning a more reliable, resilient and comprehensive system
- Identity-based inspection and control to support users and user groups to provide more thorough IP inspection
- Full inspection into encrypted traffic, with extensive configurations to ensure no regulations are violated during this inspection
- Remote VPN access to protect remote users
Pricing: Quantum is available in a range of options. Pricing is supplied via a quotation request.
Expert Insights Comments: Check Point Quantum firewalls offer unwavering security, bolstered by threat prevention that is delivered by the product’s SandBlast Zero Day protection. Enterprises and companies with rapid expansion will be able to enjoy deploying and expanding the product at scale without a compromise on security with cloud level expansion and resiliency on premises. Favored by enterprises and governmental institutions, we would recommend Check Point Quantum for companies of all sizes and all industries looking for an intuitive and robust firewall solution that is also affordable, despite its power and scalability.
From world-leader, San Jose-based Cisco, comes the Cisco Secure Firewall which utilizes a zero-trust framework to provide air-tight security. This zero-trust posture is enabled via network, microsegmentation, and app security integrations. Deployment is fuss-free and is highly integratable with existing security platforms to provide one consolidated security architecture. A highly customizable solution, admins can view and operate from one single, intuitive console. End-users will also find the system easy to navigate.
Cisco Secure Firewall Features
- Intrusion prevention and intrusion detection systems integrated with firewall, leveraged by adaptive and strong threat intelligence feeds
- Extensive visibility into network activity through Cisco’s endpoint solution
- All untrusted connections easily and immediately blocked through site-to-site VPNs
- URL filtering and sandboxing capabilities
- Centralized management
- Improved GUI experience and Talos Intelligence feed
Pricing: There are a range of options to choose from. Pricing is supplied via a quotation request.
Expert Insights Comments: Cisco Secure Firewall is a robust and effective firewall tool that is highly effective in guarding your network from an ever changing and evolving threat landscape. It is highly skilled, drawing on a strong threat intel base, in blocking almost all known threats and the majority of zero-day threats. Despite its power, it is still an easy solution to configure and maintain, with consolidated dashboards and easy onboarding. Customers who have bought this solution have noted it for its reliability and ease of use, though it’s one of the more expensive options on the market. As such, we would recommend it for large and enterprise-level organizations.
Founded in 2016, ForcePoint has quickly made a name for itself, with its next-gen firewall solution, quickly becoming a firm favorite amongst companies. The solution features built-in SD-WAN capabilities, zero trust network architecture, and automated unified policy updates. Easy to deploy, configure, and use, ForcePoint’s firewall is highly customizable and flexible, allowing for updates or quick changes when needed. Despite its scalability, the firewall solution can be managed easily from a single centralized management system which also provides extensive logging and reporting for troubleshooting.
ForcePoint NextGen Firewall Features
- 2FA/MFA capabilities, which can be enabled for remote working fore end users
- Whitelists and blacklists can be configured for traffic from specific applications depending on endpoint advices and granular endpoint contextual data
- Block exfiltration of sensitive information and data
- Centralized management with granularity of controls, scalability of management capabilities, and ability to manage large amounts of firewalls
- Full SASE integration with SD-WAN, site connectivity to Security Service Edge over GRE and IPsec, built-in ZTNA app connector
Pricing: A free trial is available. Pricing is supplied via a quotation request.
Expert Insights Comments: ForcePoint’s NextGen Firewall is an overtly robust and powerful firewall solution that works best when performed at scale. ADmins will find that they have the flexibility and capability to manage and deploy numerous firewalls and fleets of firewalls at scale with no compromise on performance. It is seamlessly integrated with other products in your security stack and on the whole offers full and comprehensive protection. It can be easy to deploy, configure, and maintain with the right staffing and funding. We would recommend the solution for large and enterprise scale companies.
Fortigate is a next-gen firewall solution from highly established global cybersecurity specialist, Fortinet. Its NGFW solutions offer advanced protection that works in real-time and total network visibility for organizations of any size. It’s a highly intuitive solution that integrates well with existing workflows. It combines AI, SOC and NOC process automation, and inline prevention for a pervasive and overarching solution that is highly adept at detecting and preventing known and unknown threats, including exploits, encrypted malware, ransomware, malicious websites, botnets, and other unknown attacks.
Fortigate Next Generation Firewall Features
- All policies unified and stored at a single point
- SaaS application segmentation which allows for inline CASB protection for all SaaS applications within your network
- HTTP/3 support with extensive inspection and detection into HTTP/3 and QUIC to assist with better visibility, enhanced protection, and more support
- Multi and hybrid cloud support through Cloud and SDN connectors for AWS, Microsoft Azure, GCP, OCI, AliCloud, VMware ESXi, NSX, OpenStack, Cisco ACI and Nuage Virtualized Service Platforms
- In depth reporting and analytics, with the ability to automate a lot of responses
- Anti-virus, sandboxing, and intrusion prevention systems
Pricing: Pricing is supplied via a quotation request. Pricing dependent on size and requirements.
Expert Insights Comments: Fortinet’s next generation firewalls are robust tools that can perform at scale. Flexible yet powerful, this series of firewalls’ leverage of AI and machine learning creates an intuitive and adaptive tool that is worth having in your security stack. AI and ML capabilities ensure that even most emerging and zero-day threats are easily blocked. Fortinet provides tailored solutions that can meet specific needs for SMBs, enterprises, and MSPs. We would recommend Fortinet’s NGFWs for organizations of any size and industry looking for a highly scalable, fast, and robust network firewall solution.
The next-gen firewall solution from Hillstone is a flexible yet strong solution that provides extensive security at the application layer. The A-Series edition of the firewall consolidates anti-spam, cloud sandboxing, botnet C&C protection, IPS, IP reputation, URL filtering, antivirus protocols and more. A high-performing threat detection and analytics engine delivers efficient network protection while also reducing network latency. It offers high I/O port density and expansion slots are available for certain models to increase performance and scale the solution. Large storage can deliver longer log storage time, more in-depth analysis, and extended visibility.
Hillstone A-Series NextGen Firewall Features
- Anti-spam, cloud sandbox and botnet C&C protection, in addition to IPS, IP reputation, URL filtering, and anti-virus integrated into firewall
- Policy management optimized through policy grouping customization, traffic analytics, and policy recommendations based on those analytics, and policy redundancy checks, policy hit count analysis for further optimization, and the ability to consolidate several policies into one unified one to act as a single policy
- High I/O port density
- Unified and advanced threat detection and analytics engine
- Anti-virus and cloud sandbox
Pricing: Pricing is supplied via a quotation request.
Expert Insights Comments: Hillstone Networks NGFW A Series is designed to offer extensive and effective protection, at scale if needed. It provides high security performance without compromising on its ease of use and ability to expand. It is highly capable of blocking known and unknown threats, has a wide range of security tools built into its stack, and has streamlined policy and security operations. Overall, Hillstone’s NGFW solution is a flexible, scalable, yet robust firewall solution that is cost effective, making it a smart choice for SMBs looking for an effective yet affordable firewall solution.
SonicWall is a Californian-native company that specializes in cybersecurity tools that cover network security, such as firewalls, VPNs, and more. SonicWall has a range of firewall options which are noted for a sleek and straightforward interface. Admins have a full, comprehensive view over network firewall activity. Deployment and configuration are noted for their ease, with “zero-touch” deployment being a possibility. Their support team has also been commended by users for their help and support.
SonicWall Next Generation Firewall TZ-Series Features
- Network Security Manager tool which assists admins with onboarding and management from a single interface
- Zero-touch deployment can deploy numerous firewalls remotely, provide extensive analytics and reporting for threat detection and remediation, extensive configuration abilities, and more
- Firewalls can be easily created from a range of custom templates
- Audit-ready reporting automation
- SSL/TLS Decryption and Inspection
- SD-WAN capabilities
- Deep memory inspection
Pricing: Pricing is supplied via a quotation request.
Expert Insights Comments: Powerful yet uncomplicated, SonicWall’s firewall TZ series is a flexible firewall option that can be deployed in a range of environments, from multi and hybrid cloud to on-prem for small organizations. It offers highly advanced threat protection and heightened control while still simplifying security and policy processes and still offering extensive visibility into network activity. SonicWall’s firewall comes in a range of deployment options and sizes, suiting SMBs looking for a well-supported solution that is also cost effective and easy to manage.
From British IT security company, Sophos, comes a long line of powerful and robust firewall solutions that are highly scalable. It has a range of high-performing options, with an array of deployment options including cloud and virtual firewalls, and virtual firewalls can be deployed on existing hardware. Sophos’ firewalls are highly integratable with other products from the same brand. Firewalls are all managed from one single, intuitive console—streamlining operations for your IT team. There is a slight learning curve for those that are new to the product—an issue that is circumvented by a strong and helpful support team.
Sophos Firewall Features
- Xstream Protection delivers threat prevention whilst also optimizing SaaS, SD-WAN, and cloud app traffic
- TLS 1.3 decryption and deep packet inspection
- Stream scanning protection for IPS, AV, Web, App Control, and TLS Inspection via a single-high performance engine
- Xstream Network Flow FastPath provides automated policy driven and intelligent acceleration of all trusted and approved traffic
- Centralized management from a consolidated dashboard
- Zero-touch deployment
Pricing: Pricing is supplied via a quotation request.
Expert Insights Comments: Sophos’ next-generation firewall is a highly adaptive, pervasive, and powerful solution that leverages Sophos’ Xstream Protection architecture to deliver world class security. It is this architecture that delivers extensive protection from known and unknown threats, while also boosting SaaS, SD-WAN, and cloud application traffic. Strong SD-WAN capabilities also ensure that the network continues to run at optimal condition. The firewall can also be provided liberally and extensively, allowing admins to extend their network where needed. We would recommend Sophos’ firewall solutions for SMBs and enterprises.
As a specialist in network security, the firewall solutions from WatchGuard are attractive options that deliver fast and pervasive firewalls. WatchGuard’s firewalls come in a range of deployment options, including physical on-prem solutions, cloud firewalls, and virtual firewalls. Regardless of which option companies choose, high-speed UTM performance is delivered. Unified threat management is applied to all options, making WatchGuard’s solutions efficient in delivering robust protection against a range of highly sophisticated threats such as botnets, cross-site scripting, SQL injection attempts, and others.
WatchGuard Firebox Cloud Overview Features
- Provides VPN to on-prem and remote users
- Consolidated system management console and full panel dashboard
- Extensive and in-depth traffic monitoring and deep packet inspection on all traffic
- Traffic tailored depending on block lists
- Data loss prevention capabilities available
- SD-WAN, IPS, anti-spam, stateful firewall, gateway anti-virus, and more
Pricing: A free trial of their solutions is available. Pricing is supplied via a quotation request.
Expert Insights Comments: WatchGuard Firebox firewalls leave no stone unturned with extensive network visibility and a deep dive inspection into all traffic–encrypted or otherwise. WatchGuard’s network firewall solutions are robust and pervasive, though deployment and configuration can be somewhat time consuming and difficult. Users in a public cloud are effectively protected from a range of attacks including sophisticated ones such as botnets, cross-site scripting, SQL injection attempts, intrusion vectors, and more. We would recommend its solutions for large and enterprise level organizations that have a larger budget and team to handle the learning curve.
From established vendor, Palo Alto Networks, comes its next-generation firewall VM-Series—a robust and intelligent firewall solution that comes with a range of deployment options that suit on-prem, hybrid, and cloud environments. Deployment has been noted for its quick running time although can be slightly complicated. The solution is highly flexible and scalable, with additional upgrading and customization later easy to configure. It provides extensive logging and reporting in a clean and intuitive interface.
VM-Series by Palo Alto Networks Features
- Integrated data loss prevention tools and granular application-level control which prevents attackers from accessing sensitive information and data and prevents outbound traffic exfiltration
- Extensive packet inspection safeguards against sophisticated and particularly evasive and well-hidden threats
- Zero trust access and integrated IPS to prevent privilege escalation and lateral movement
- URL filtering, strong customization on content filtering, and robust threat management capabilities
- In-depth logging, reporting, and threat intel analytics
- Sandboxing
Pricing: Pricing is supplied via a quotation request.
Expert Insights Comments: Palo Alto Networks is a highly respected vendor, particularly in the world of network security. Their VM-Series next-gen firewall is the virtualized form factor of the Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewall. It offers world class protection that can be performed at scale with no compromise on performance or latency. It has a broad yet all-encompassing set of tools in its security stack and can be deployed in a range of environments, both private and public, including VMware, Cisco ACI and ENCS, KVM, OpenStack, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft public and private cloud, OCI, and Google Cloud Platform. Overall, the VM-Series is a highly powerful network firewall series that delivers scalable security. We would recommend the solution for large to enterprise level organizations of all industries.
From established vendor VMware is the VMware NSX Distributed Firewall—a software-based firewall. It is particularly beneficial in providing strong security to multi-cloud environments and advanced threat prevention with its layer 7 firewall capabilities. Microsegmentation is also possible. Its software-based nature means that it is easily deployed alongside current architecture and simplifies firewall deployment and management by replacing any existing physical hardware.
VMware NSX Firewall Features
- Zero-trust security and advanced threat protection safeguard against sophisticated attacks such as ransomware and lateral movement
- API-driven, object-based policy model which can assist in policy recommendations and automate certain policy processes, simplifying certain procedures and assisting in decision making for admins
- NSX gateway, gateway firewall, and VPN capabilities
- DPU-based acceleration for NSX
- Distributed security provides: distributed intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDPS), distributed malware prevention, distributed network traffic analysis (NTA), and network detection and response
- Centralized policy configuration and enforcement across multiple locations from a single pane of view
Pricing: Pricing is supplied via a quotation request.
Expert Insights Comments: VMware’s NSX Firewall solution is an API-driven firewall with a full stack of security tools that strive to protect all applications and users through micro-segmentation and advanced threat protection. Controls and security is highly granular, with admins able to apply strong and consistent policies throughout the network through refined and controlled management. Its automated nature makes sure areas of the network receive appropriate security policies and can be set to update automatically. It has third-party configurations and can easily be configured with most tools already built into your security stack. The solution is also highly adept at managing and performing well in multi-cloud environments. Deployment can be complex, so as such, we would suggest VMware’s firewall solutions for companies of any industry specifically at enterprise level.
What Types Of Firewalls Are There?
There’s not a single network on the planet that wouldn’t stand to benefit from having a firewall solution in place. A tool that consistently and constantly tracks and examines all incoming and outgoing traffic within the network, network firewalls are regarded as one of the number one tools any business can have as part of their security stack. For all their benefits and capabilities, network firewalls are actually quite simple in design and function. However, there are a range of network firewall types that all achieve broadly the same thing, albeit in different ways. These are:
- Packet filtering firewalls
- Circuit-level firewalls
- Stateful inspection firewalls
- Application layer/proxy server firewalls
- Next-generation firewalls
What Features Do The Best Firewalls Have?
Modern firewalls have gone beyond merely filtering out unwanted traffic, so it’s worth looking for specific features that help your organization get the most out of your chosen firewall solution.
- Data Exfiltration: While all firewalls will examine traffic coming in for harmful code, a select few will examine traffic coming out to make sure that nothing that should be leaving the network is leaving the network, such as sensitive data.
- Threat Prevention: Firewalls can provide threat prevention capabilities, which can identify and block attacks before they breach a network.
- Sandboxing: This feature can run files or other items in a protected environment isolated away from the network, so the firewall can determine if the file in question contains any malicious code.
- Unified Security Management: This helps teams manage and enforce security policies across the network environment.
Scalability: It’s important that as your network expands and adapts, your firewall solution does too.
