Safeguard Your Business with Cisco’s Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) Solutions
Enhance network visibility and access control. Monitor traffic and connections. Maintain visibility at all operational edges.
Next Generation Firewalls (NGFW) and Traditional Firewalls: Key Differences.
A Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) is more than just a lock on your network door. Unlike traditional firewalls, which only inspect basic packet headers and filter traffic by IP, port, and protocol, an NGFW goes deeper. It checks all layers of network traffic, including the application layer (Layer 7), for threats, access policies, and risky behavior. This means you get protection that recognizes modern applications, detects hidden malware, and blocks advanced attacks that traditional firewalls often miss.
Traditional firewalls mainly offer basic packet filtering and struggle with web-based threats or new cloud applications. An NGFW uses advanced features like deep packet inspection (DPI), application awareness and control, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and more. You can enforce security based on user identities, not just IP addresses.
Why opt for Cisco Next Generation Firewalls?
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Improved security with advanced firewall rules
Create specific policies for different users, applications, and devices.
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Application-layer firewall
Manage applications running on your network, disable harmful or personal ones.
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Centralized policy-based access control
Control all access and configuration for all sites from a single control panel.
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Network segmentation with firewalls
Control the movement of users and data to prevent the propagation of attacks.
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Integrated VPN and secure remote access
Safeguard your staff regardless of their location.
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Performance and reliability
Augment the level of security without slowing down the network.
Cisco Next Generation Firewall Features
With Cisco, you benefit from cutting-edge features of state-of-the-art NGFWs:
- Deep packet inspection (DPI): Identifies and neutralizes concealed dangers by examining every packet and not just its header.
- Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Monitors and blocks both known and unknown attacks in real time.
- Advanced threat protection: Proactively neutralizes the spread of malware, ransomware, and zero-day attacks.
- Firewall cloud management: Manage and make changes to all your firewalls from one intuitive cloud interface.
- Network traffic visibility: Monitor network usage anytime without relying on estimates.
- Centrally managed advanced firewall rules: Set policies for all locations without waiting for a distributed delay.
- User identity and application awareness: Enforce policies based on users or applications, not solely on the device or port.
- Automated security: Updates and a threat intelligence feed work together to mitigate emerging threats.
How does Deep Packet Inspection reinforce security in NGFWs (Next Generation Firewalls)?
Deep packet inspection (DPI) is an advanced form of packet filtering used to enhance security by examining not only the source and destination of a packet, but also its internal structure for possible harmful components, commands, malware, or other payloads. NGFWs (Next Generation Firewalls) are able to:
- Inspect and eliminate attacks that are embedded in benign-looking encoded messages.
- Implement and enforce intricate security rules for particular applications or services.
- Restrict access to non-productive applications while allowing unobtrusive business applications to function without interference.
This heightened scrutiny of packets enables NGFWs to deal with contemporary advanced persistent threats much more efficiently than older generation firewalls.
Which Cisco Firewalls Are Best for Next Generation Firewall Protection?
- Cisco Firepower Next-Generation Firewalls: Best suited for advanced application control and in-line DPI, full-featured IPS, and robust site-to-site and remote VPNs.
- Cisco ASA Next Generation Firewalls: A robust stateful firewall with the most recent security services; ideal for medium to larger enterprises that require sophisticated threat protection and adaptable performance.
- Cisco Meraki MX Firewalls: These are the cloud-managed firewalls that are simple to deploy, provide sophisticated protection to distributed branch offices, and are best suited for expanding enterprises that require rapid deployment, easy scalability, and a simple-to-use control interface.
With Cisco NGFWs, managing security, network, and users can be done from a single interface, whether on the premises or in the cloud.
Advantages of Using Firewalls in the Cloud
With Cisco managing the firewall in the cloud:
- Streamlined processes for managing the network: One interface manages all updates, configuration, and reporting.
- Enables network-wide segmentation using firewalls: Protect sensitive data and systems by controlling access to the network.
- Quicker response to threats: Receive automatic updates regarding threat intelligence in real time.
- Change security policies remotely: From a single interface, change policies on all firewalls globally.
- Lessened risks and simplified compliance in audits: Access to historical logs and tools simplifies compliance for audits.
With cloud management, the security of networks in a hybrid model or multiple sites is automated, reducing the amount of work done manually.
Maximizing Performance and Security
To get the maximum benefit of the NGFW, you should:
- Trust only the applications, users, and traffic you allow through your advanced firewall settings.
- Traffic report analysis is often done to detect unusual behavior and potentially hazardous activities.
- Automatic threat updates and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) are being utilized.
- Adjusting IPS and DPI for specific areas while maintaining an optimal level of performance for essential business operations.
- Using firewalls to restrict access, then employing them to control and mitigate risks in addition to containing them.
Cisco NGFWs provide performance profiles to aid in achieving the optimization of protective measures without impacting the network speed.
Policy-based Access Control and Network Segmentation
Cisco NGFWs enable sophisticated network segmentation. Zone firewalls enable you to compartmentalize your network into segments like finance and guest. Partitioning the network in this way ensures that even if one area is breached, the damage will be contained. Coupled with trust-based access control, only verified trusted users can interact with sensitive materials. This defends against data leaks, insider threats, and aligns with zero-trust models.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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1. What is a next-generation firewall, and how does it differ from a traditional firewall?
NGFWs offer advanced features like DPI, application control, and IPS, going beyond basic packet filtering and making your network safer against new threats.
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2. How does deep packet inspection improve network security in NGFWs?
DPI allows NGFWs to check inside every packet for hidden threats, blocking attacks that would pass undetected by older firewalls.
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3. What are the key features of a Cisco next-generation firewall?
DPI, IPS, cloud management, application and user awareness, advanced policies, centralized dashboard, quick updates, and built-in VPN.
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4. Which Cisco firewall is best for next-generation firewall protection?
All three offer top-tier NGFW protection: Cisco Firepower, ASA Next Generation Firewall, and Meraki MX firewalls. Select the model that fits your business size and requirements.
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5. What are the benefits of using cloud-managed next-generation firewalls?
Achieve higher visibility across all locations with streamlined efforts to manage security, as well as visibility, at all locations. During security audits, the cloud firewalls need fewer efforts. Updating security policies is less work and is done from a single location.
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6. How to optimize performance and security settings in a next-generation firewall?
Frequently revise the rules, policies, and visibility configurations to improve the firewalls and security at the network perimeter. Balance DPI and IPS performance with the need to minimize impact on network latency.