A Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) is a modern security tool used to protect computer networks from various cyber threats, providing more advanced features compared to traditional firewalls. To understand NGFWs, it’s helpful to first know what a firewall is. A firewall is like a security guard for a network that controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined rules. Traditional firewalls typically check traffic at the most basic level, using things, like IP addresses, ports, and protocols (the methods by which data is sent across a network). While this works for blocking some types of threats, it is limited in it's ability to understand the actual content of network traffic.
Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) go much further than traditional firewalls by adding advanced capabilities to detect and block more sophisticated threats. These include things like deep packet inspection, intrusion prevention, and the ability to look at network traffic in a much more detailed way.
Application Awareness and Control: Traditional firewalls only check for things, like IP addresses and ports. However, NGFWs can look at the specific applications being used on the network. For example, instead of just blocking general web traffic, an NGFW can identify if someone is using an application like Facebook or a file-sharing service, and decide whether to allow or block it based on the organisation’s security policies. This is helpful because modern cyber threats often hide within trusted applications, which traditional firewalls might not be able to recognise.
Intrusion Prevention (IPS): NGFWs come with intrusion prevention systems (IPS), which are designed to detect and block malicious activities, such as hackers trying to break into a network or malware trying to spread. Unlike traditional firewalls that only block certain traffic, IPS within NGFWs actively scans for patterns of suspicious behaviour and stops attacks in real time.
User Identity Awareness: NGFWs can recognise who is using the network by integrating with systems like Active Directory (a system that manages user information). This means that the firewall can apply different rules based on who the user is, what device they are using, and their access rights. For example, a network administrator might have more access than a regular employee, and NGFWs can enforce these rules to prevent unauthorised access.
SSL Decryption: Many online communications today are encrypted (like using HTTPS for secure websites), which helps protect sensitive data. However, this encryption can also be used to hide malicious activities, such as malware or harmful commands. NGFWs can decrypt this encrypted traffic temporarily to inspect it for threats before re-encrypting and allowing it to pass through.
Better Threat Detection and Prevention: NGFWs also integrate with other security technologies, such as threat intelligence feeds, which provide up-to-date information about new types of cyber threats. This allows the NGFW to detect and block the latest types of malware and cyber-attacks as soon as they are identified.
While NGFWs are more powerful than traditional firewalls, they can be more complex to set up and manage. They also require more computing power to handle the extra features, such as deep traffic analysis. However, their ability to block a wider range of threats, including sophisticated cyber-attacks, makes them an essential tool for securing modern networks.
In summary, Next-Generation Firewalls are more advanced security devices that go beyond the capabilities of traditional firewalls. They can identify and block harmful applications, prevent cyber-attacks, and provide better overall protection for networks by analysing network traffic in much greater detail. As cyber threats become more complex, NGFWs provide a critical layer of defence for organisations.