Interscale Content Hub – As cyber threats keep evolving, firewall services act as the gatekeepers of your network, filtering incoming and outgoing traffic based on predefined rules to help keep your network secure.
They keep your data safe from unauthorized access, malicious attacks, and data breaches.
Hence, it’s important to know about the different types of firewall services out there.
Each one is designed to meet specific security needs and organizational requirements, which helps to make sure that an organization’s network is as safe as it can be.
So, let’s get into it.
Definition of a Firewall in Network Security
A firewall is a hardware- or software-based network security system that creates a barrier between a trusted network, like your company’s internal network, and an untrusted network, like the internet.
Network security firewalls are there to stop people from getting into or out of private networks, including intranets, without permission.
You can set up these systems as hardware, software, or a combination.
The main job of a firewall is to look over all the messages that come in and go out and to let them through or block them based on what’s been set up as security rules.
This is important for keeping people who shouldn’t have access to private networks off the internet. That way, we can protect our sensitive information and systems from potential breaches.
The global network security firewall market is huge, and it’s always getting bigger.
There’s more and more demand for better network security because of the rise in cybersecurity threats, the shift to remote work, and the growing prevalence of cloud computing and IoT devices.
According to Expert Market Research, the market was valued at around $6.97 billion in 2023. It’s projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.70% through 2032, potentially reaching around $43.97 billion.
This strong growth is driven by new technology and the changing landscape of cyber threats, which means we need more advanced and flexible firewall solutions.
More and more companies are turning to cloud-based firewall deployments, which offer scalability, cost-effectiveness, and direct integration with cloud services.
This adaptation helps companies manage the complexities of modern network architectures and ensures that security policies are applied consistently across all environments, whether on-premises or cloud-based.
Please refer to “Alarm to Act Now: Are You Ready for 11 Emerging Cybersecurity Threats?“ to get an idea of the threats and challenges you’ll need to face.
Types of Firewall Services
There are a few different types of firewalls, depending on how they’re put together and what they do.
Packet Filtering Firewalls
These are the most basic types of firewalls that manage and filter data packets at the network layer.
They make decisions based on things like source and destination IP addresses, protocols, ports, and other surface-level packet information.
Stateful Inspection Firewalls
Stateful inspection firewalls are more advanced than packet filters.
They monitor the state of active connections and make decisions based on the context of traffic.
They keep track of each connection, making sure that only packets matching a known active connection are allowed to pass through.
Application-Level Gateways (Proxy Firewalls)
These firewalls work at the application layer, checking the content of the traffic to make sure it meets the required security standards.
They can block specific content, services, or apps that don’t comply with the policy.
Circuit-Level Gateways
These firewalls are similar to proxy firewalls but less sophisticated.
They verify the transmission of data packets without examining the content, ensuring the validity of the session without the deeper content inspection provided by application-level gateways.
Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW)
These combine the capabilities of traditional firewalls with some extra features like encrypted traffic inspection, intrusion prevention systems, and advanced identity management.
NGFWs offer a more comprehensive network protection solution by integrating multiple security layers into a single package.
How Firewalls Work to Monitor and Control Network Traffic
Firewalls are basically like traffic cops for the data that flows in and out.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) says these systems work by enforcing a set of security rules on network traffic.
So, let’s take a closer look at the guidelines set by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
First of all, the main job of a firewall is to filter traffic. This means looking at the basic identifiers of each data packet that passes through, like IP addresses, ports, and protocols.
Based on these details, the firewall uses predefined rules to decide whether to allow or block the traffic.
Another important thing to know is that they do stateful inspections. This technique is all about keeping track of all the active network connections in a state table.
With this info, the firewall can figure out what’s going on with the traffic.
It helps the firewall spot and stop data packets that look legit but aren’t part of an established network connection, so it can keep your network safe from certain types of attacks.
Advanced firewalls go even further with Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). DPI looks beyond the basic headers of data packets and checks out what’s inside.
This lets the firewall spot harmful activities hidden in data that might otherwise look normal, giving you an extra layer of security.
Firewalls also create and manage network security policies.
Network administrators set these policies, which dictate which types of connections and data flows are allowed. They’re tailored to the security needs of the organization.
Lastly, firewalls are really important for logging and reporting. They keep track of all the traffic and events they monitor.
This data is really important for making sure you’re complying with the rules, doing audits, and making changes to your network security based on what you’ve seen and what might be a threat.
Firewalls are a great way to keep your network safe from unauthorized access and potential security threats. They’re a must-have for anyone serious about network security.
Benefits of Using Firewall Services
Firewalls keep out unauthorized access and make sure that only the right communications get through, which helps to keep sensitive data safe.
Firewalls keep potential threats like Trojans and other malicious software from getting in by looking at what’s going on and stopping harmful programs from getting through.
Also, firewalls are key for enabling secure remote access. Businesses often use VPN features built into firewalls to give their remote workers a safe way to access their company’s internal networks.
This helps them stay productive and secure, even when they’re working from different locations.
Another great thing about firewalls is that they help you stay on the right side of the law.
With more and more rules about how to protect data—like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)—coming into play, companies like Meta and TikTok have been hit with big fines for not following the rules.
Firewalls help organizations stay in line with these standards, avoiding hefty penalties and potential damage to their reputation.
Firewall technologies and services have kept up with the times, evolving to meet the complex security needs of today’s digital landscape.
They now integrate advanced capabilities like Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) and stateful inspection to enhance security measures further.
These technologies let you inspect data packets in great detail, so you can spot and deal with sophisticated threats that might be hidden in legitimate traffic.
Also, you can read “Why Risk Management in Cybersecurity is No Longer an Option in 2024?” for perspective about risk management.
How Much does a Firewall Service Cost?
The cost of firewall services varies significantly depending on factors such as the type of firewall, the size of the network, and the specific security needs of an organization.
The cost of firewall services is quite variable, depending on the scale and security requirements of your organization. Let’s take a study case by TrustRadius in 2020.
For smaller setups, such as home offices, prices can start as low as $200. For medium-sized organizations, firewall solutions can range from $1,500 to $20,000, while large enterprises might see prices from $30,000 up to $300,000 for advanced firewall capabilities.
These prices can include varying levels of service such as basic firewall protection, advanced threat prevention, and integrated services like VPNs and anti-malware tools.
Additional costs can accrue from managed services, support contracts, and other add-ons that enhance the functionality and effectiveness of the firewall.
These managed services and additional features are particularly crucial for larger organizations or those requiring high levels of security, where the complexity and scope of network traffic necessitate more sophisticated management and protection mechanisms.
It’s important for you to consider not only the initial cost of the firewall appliance but also the total cost of ownership, which includes these ongoing services and operational costs.
How Interscale be Your Firewall Services Solutions
At Interscale, we’re all about designing custom firewall service strategies to meet your specific needs.
Our team has years of experience implementing successful firewall services.
Take Mount Evelyn Christian School, for instance. We helped them beef up their security and create a more reliable network infrastructure.
This kind of expertise is reflected in all of our IT services, which we offer in Melbourne and the Asia-Pacific region. Security is always our top priority.
And yes, we’ll work with you to make sure your firewall stays up to date and help you stay secure in the face of any threats or challenges.
If you want to know more about how we approach IT support and our commitment to firewall services, check out the Interscale IT Support page.
If you’d like to chat about your company’s specific needs and how we can help, just let us know and we’ll set up a consultation to discuss how we can enhance your firewall system.
Conclusion
So, firewalls are really important for modern network security. The problem is how you manage them. Do you have the resources to do it? Or do you work with the provider?
When you choose the best firewall services and work with a reliable IT provider, your critical business assets are protected.
By choosing Interscale, you’re choosing a partner dedicated to securing your business with comprehensive firewall services.
