Next Generation Firewall: Everything you need to know in 5 Easy Steps

Introduction

A next-generation firewall is one of the important parts of the third generation of firewall technology which has evolved to be a major part of the new age filled with numerous digital advancements. The next-generation firewall combines a traditional firewall and aims at filtering several functions through IPS (intrusion prevention system) and DPI (deep packet inspection).

1. What is a Next-Generation firewall?
2. Features
3. Benefits
4. Importance
5. Next-gen firewalls vs Traditional firewalls

1. What is a Next-Generation firewall?

Firewalls are security tools used by most companies to protect their business from internal and external harm and injuries. Mainly, the ngfw aims at filtering network traffic which eventually ends up protecting an organization from several threats. It follows various steps to measure a threat. These methods include IP mapping features, VPN support, packet filtering, network monitoring, and more. Through these steps, ngfw firstly recognizes the potential network threats and then becomes aware of malware attacks, software harms, and several other external threats. Then, it works upon preventing them afterward.

The next-gen firewall is a tool that provides an organization with benefits like intrusion prevention, application control, and advanced visibility of their network. Therefore, the major function of a ngfw firewall provided to these organizations is protection.

2. Features

The main next-generation firewall features include:

• The ngfw firewall focuses on recognizing potential threats by using threat intelligence resources.
• Several modifications have been added to the OSI model and the packet filtering method has been made advanced as well.
• It aims at upgrading paths in order to include future information feeds.
• Makes use of several technical instruments to get to the root of the potential threats and works upon preventing them in all the possible ways.
• Includes a path to store future data for the organization. It is a new updated feature that is available in ngfw now.
• Gives flexibility to the organization to evolve as much as they want and keeps the network secure from all potential threats as they arise from time to time.
• Works on making strong VPN connections to protect their network from external harm.
• The whole process does not take days after days to complete. Instead, it gets done within seconds. It is an extremely useful feature of the new generation firewalls.
•   Uses anti-virus and anti-malware protection software frequently. From time to time, several files stay encrypted while scanning. As a result malware defects and other security problems are generally overlooked. With an installed anti-virus and anti-malware protection this tendency decreases.
• Uses geolocation to detect the proper physical location with IP addresses. Through the use of geolocation, it is possible to block certain IP addresses, even certain countries to access the organization. It protects data privacy and the matter of intrusion.
• Focuses on URL filtering to detect unwanted and harmful external attacks and prevents them from entering the network system.
• Uses sandboxing, a better version of malware protection software. A sandbox aims at locating common malicious behaviour, such as network disturbances, and command and control.

These are some of the major next-gen firewall features that make them unique and precious in the world of technology.

3. Benefits

Companies and organizations using ng firewall get various benefits that help them have a safe and protected business, unlike those who tend to use manual protection for their organizational security 

One of the major benefits of a next-generation firewall is malware blockage. It protects a network by blocking malware from entering the network and defends it from external attack. Next-generation firewalls are way better equipped at recognizing the Advanced Persistent Threats or the APTs.

Next-generation firewalls tend to have a path for storing future updates for an organization, which is extremely beneficial. It is a new and updated feature that has been added to the ngfw.

Next-generation firewalls are financially beneficial,  when it comes to companies that look forward to having good security systems at reasonable rates, and with low maintenance and minimum manual labor.

When it comes to network protection, a lot has to be taken into consideration, including malware blockages, anti-virus, and more.  However, the next-generation firewall is a tool that combines all these important features into one and uses them accordingly as per convenience. Through recognition, awareness, inspection services, and malware protection, ngfw firewalls seldom fail at protecting the networks for the organizations. 

4. Importance

Organizations receive several benefits there are several benefits that organizations have by using next-generation firewalls. The major importance of using a new generation firewall is the unmatchable protection that it provides. Threats are becoming quite frequent with each passing day, and neither of the personal and professional networks is secure from external attacks. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance for every organization to have next-gen firewalls in their system to protect them from all kinds of attacks.

It not only protects the devices from a broader spectrum of intrusions but it is also available at reasonable rates. It helps the networks with breach prevention, advanced protection. It also provides them with a huge level of comprehensive network visibility along with several flexible management and deployment options.

Next-gen firewall features tend to detect potential threats in a few seconds, unlike the other mediums which take around two hundred days to detect external network threats. The protection that is provided by the ngfw is, therefore, more advanced, and no organization is able to function properly without them, these days.

5. Next-gen firewalls vs Traditional firewalls

A traditional firewall is basically a part of the first generation tool of the firewall technology that aims at network protection by using various methods, including packet filtering, stateful inspection, VPN support, and more. The next-generation firewall makes use of these steps as well. However, the most significant difference is that the next generation firewall focuses more on adding layers to the OSI model, modifying the packet filtering method, and improving traffic protection.

In other words, the next-generation firewalls use more advanced terms the methods to prevent the network system from external malware attacks. It is a modified version of the traditional firewall and does a better job of bug prevention in network systems.

New generation firewalls use static as well as dynamic packet filtering, similar to the traditional firewalls. They also make use of the VPN support system like the general firewalls and make sure that all connections made by a network are secure and no external attack is able to pave its way into the system.

However, there are a few fundamental differences as well. The most obvious distinction is that the ngfw is able to use packet filtering based on applications. The new generation of firewalls is advanced. They can detect threats by using analysis and signature matching. They use signature-based IPS and other advanced tools to detect whether an external source is safe and secure, or not.

Another major distinction between traditional firewalls and next-generation firewalls is that the ngfw includes a path through which the future updates are received by the organization. This feature is not present in general firewalls. Now, if you’re interested in learning more about firewalls, check out India’s first program, focused only on defensive cybersecurity technologies. Jigsaw Academy’s 520-hour-long Master Certificate in Cyber Security (Blue Team) is the course that you have been looking for. Happy learning!

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