Next-Generation Firewalls and why you need them.
Firewalls have been a staple of net security for quite a while. And yet, while the name remains the same, the actual design and implementation of a firewall has evolved at an exponential rate. All firewalls have the same purpose: To prevent unauthorized intrusion and safeguard data. Firewalls are so commonplace that they form the boundaries of the very internet itself.
Any company or individual with rudimentary internet security and above almost certainly has at least one firewall in place to protect their data. All data traffic passes through firewalls where malicious elements are blocked based on the current security policy enforced by the firewall’s operators.
Firewalls and Network Security to Safeguard Your Internet Connections
An NGFW (Next Generation Firewall) is a bit more complex than your traditional firewall. In addition to keeping your traffic free from unwanted elements, NGFWs act on the provided policy to provide services that benefits all other firewalls and network security as a whole with options such as sandboxing, malware protection, Intrusion Prevention Systems, and other services designed to provide the network and its users with increase protection while improving the network’s overall efficiency by eliminating threats that could slow it down.
As the internet has grown and changed, so too have a hacker’s methods. Now, they can attempt intrusions from multiple sources and even attack networks on all fronts with automated attacks. A normal firewall could buckle under such pressures and cause a network crash, or worse, a fraction of these intrusions could slip through unnoticed, with the potential to cause unknown havoc on a massive scale.
What an NGFW can do
An NGFW comes with the tools necessary to not implementation to protect your network from a wider array of threats. If standard firewalls can be seen as a wall, an NGFW is a fortress with a dedicated set of protocols and tools to ward off any attack.
In a world where hacking can be automated to run 24/7, having a security system that isn’t easily overwhelmed is a must.
Here are some of the features of an NGFW in operation.
Traffic inspection: Encrypted traffic is a great way to hide malware so it can slip by a firewall. However, an NGFW will decrypt and scan all traffic to ensure no malware can pass through.
Modern Malware Detection
As firewalls and net security get more advanced, so do hacking techniques. Modern malware is almost impossible to find if one is using standard detection protocols. However, an NGFW uses advanced malware detection algorithms and can use an isolated sandbox to analyse suspicious files and quarantine them.
Sandbox-enabled
Sandboxes are virtual environments that are created to mimic a network or computer while separating specified files and programs from the rest of the computer or network. This allows a firewall or a user to observe the file and potentially execute it. While sandboxes were chiefly used to prevent system-wide failures and shutdowns, they also work quite well when it comes to isolating suspicious files and executing them to confirm their status as malware.
Global information updates
Any firewall, even an NGFW, needs to be regularly updated to keep up with the constantly changing nature of malware and intrusion codes. Updates traditionally contain information on how to identify new malware and steps the NGFW must take to protect against the threat. With over 500,000 new pieces of malware being created every day, these updates are crucial to the safety of any network.
Web Application Firewalls
NGFWs also incorporate traditional firewalls into their framework, using them to monitor access through web applications that face a user’s side. These firewalls enact policies that can be modified on-the-go, based on the needs of the network administrator.
When looking for something specific as firewall dealers in Chennai, you will find that Sensoft Solutions has exactly what you need to keep your network malware free. All you need to do is reach out, and we’ll tell you what we can do for you!
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