The digital world and the associated threats to companies are constantly evolving. While traditional firewalls have long been regarded as a basic protective measure, their functionality is often no longer sufficient to withstand complex cyberattacks. This is where next-generation firewalls (NGFW) come into play, which go far beyond conventional solutions.

But what exactly is behind this technology and what advantages does it offer over conventional firewalls? Find out in this blog post.

What is a next-generation firewall (NGFW)?

A next-generation firewall (NGFW) - often referred to as a next-gen firewall - is an advanced security solution that goes beyond the functions of traditional firewalls. It monitors and controls data traffic between networks on the basis of defined guidelines and analyzes various characteristics of the data traffic. This advanced analysis of network traffic is deeper and more accurate than traditional firewalls, enabling NGFWs to better detect and defend against attacks.

They also offer additional security functions such as intrusion prevention systems (IPS), advanced application controls and protection mechanisms against malware. They therefore protect networks not only against conventional threats, but also against complex cyber attacks. Thanks to their powerful functions, they make a decisive contribution to modern IT security architecture. You can find more information on IT security in our specialist knowledge “IT security in companies: Importance and solutions”.

3 main types of next-generation firewalls

• Hardware NGFWs: Physical devices; installed in networks or data centers
• Virtual NGFWs: Software-based firewalls; run on virtual machines in virtualized and cloud-based environments; depend on existing hardware
• Cloud-based NGFWs: Firewalls as a service from the cloud; ideal for cloud-based infrastructures, distributed networks and remote users

Advantages of an NGFW

• Enhanced protection: Protection against threats such as malware and zero-day attacks
• Network segmentation: protection by dividing up the network to prevent attacks
• Cloud security: Protection in hybrid and cloud environments
• Monitoring and reporting: Detailed logs for monitoring security incidents
• Scalability: Adaptable to business growth with high performance
• Easy management: Integration of multiple functions reduces complexity
• Network visibility: Improved traffic monitoring for threat detection, even for encrypted connections
• Increased performance: More efficient networks by replacing multiple security devices

Challenges of an NGFW

• High costs: NGFWs require high initial investments in hardware, software and maintenance
• Adaptation to new threats: Regular updates and investments required to keep NGFWs up to date
• Difficult integration: Integration into existing networks is complicated, especially in environments with outdated and new technologies
• Implementation problems: Incorrect configuration can lead to security gaps and inefficient operation
• False alarms: Improper settings (false positives, false negatives) can lead to false alerts or overlooked threats

Important functions

Modern NGFWs offer comprehensive security functions that go beyond the basic anti-virus and VPN functions and packet filters.

The main features include:

• Application Awareness: analyze and control applications regardless of port or protocol and create policies to control network traffic
• Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Detection and blocking of attacks in real time
• Deep Packet Inspection (DPI): Detailed inspection and blocking of packets based on their content and context to detect hidden threats
• Content filtering: Filtering of web and app content, preventing access to malicious or unwanted websites
• Identity and access management: management of access rights based on user identities through authentication
• SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer/Transport Layer Security) decryption: Decryption, analysis and encryption of data traffic for threat detection
• Threat intelligence integration: real-time detection and blocking of threats by using external threat data and cloud services
• Sandboxing: Isolation and analysis of suspicious files or code in a secure environment

NGFW compared to traditional firewalls

Conventional firewalls and NGFWs are designed to protect an organization's networks and data. However, NGFWs have a variety of features that traditional firewalls do not have, not all of which are listed in this table.

Practical use cases

• Corporate campus: Centralized management of applications, devices and users
• Data center: Scalable protection with data decryption and coordination for large infrastructures
• Network segmentation: Segmentation of the network to protect sensitive areas and isolate threats
• Cloud environments: Integration of security functions for public and private clouds with centralized management
• Remote work: protection of remote employees through advanced NGFW protection

Next Generation Firewalls at IT-Planet

SonicWall NGFWs provide strong threat protection capabilities with simplified management. The TZ series offers enterprise-grade security solutions for small and medium-sized businesses and their branch offices. The NSa series is specifically designed for mid-sized businesses, while the NSsp series is designed for large enterprises.

Juniper SRX firewalls integrate intrusion prevention and advanced threat detection.

FortiGate firewalls are scalable and integrate functions such as anti-malware, VPN and web filtering.

NGFWs from Palo Alto Networks offer threat prevention for extended control of applications.

The future of network security

In the future, network security will rely heavily on technologies such as next-generation firewalls. As cyberattacks become increasingly sophisticated and dangerous, conventional firewalls are no longer sufficient. NGFWs not only offer more protection, but also adapt flexibly to modern requirements, such as the use of cloud services or mobile workstations.

Visit our online store and discover a wide selection of classic firewalls as well as powerful next-generation firewalls from well-known brands such as Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, SonicWall and Juniper.