Choosing a managed firewall over running one yourself changes how quickly your team can respond to a threat, and it’s usually the deciding factor for companies without a dedicated security staff. Traditional security measures can no longer keep up with modern threats. As a result, companies need next-generation solutions that provide advanced application-level security. Even though firewalls are common, many companies still struggle to use them properly.
Many companies already accept the need for next-generation firewall protection. However, some find it hard to decide between two paths. They can buy, install, and manage their own protection, or hire an expert to manage it for them.
Since application and data security are a must for every company, the decision deserves a close look. Choosing between a our firewall management service or an unmanaged solution usually comes down to a few questions. Here is what you need to know when considering your management options.
Internal Resources
For many organizations, it all comes down to whether they have the internal resources to sustain an unmanaged solution. Do you have the skills, time, or staff that can take over the management of your firewall or not? If your company has a security expert, it makes sense to manage the firewall, but consider their availability. Firewall solutions require 24/7 support. A staff member who is only available from 9 to 5 might not be enough to manage your firewall properly.
In that case, you might be better off opting for a firewall solution managed by a third party. The obvious benefit is that managed solutions come with 24/7/365 support and a skilled team just a call away. You also mitigate risk, since a provider who deals with next-generation firewalls daily takes on the responsibility.
Efficiency
If an expert handles the management of the firewall, you can avoid many troubles and security concerns. The firewall management provider can handle ongoing monitoring, upgrades, and patches. It also reports benefits from economies of scale and gives customers feedback on the security state of the company. A third party managing your firewall makes you more efficient at delivering products and pursuing your mission. Now that experts handle your firewalls, you can free up your staff to focus on customers.
By outsourcing, you can focus on your core business and know your firewall is secure. A managed solution brings significant efficiency gains if your existing firewall doesn’t efficiently cover all business-critical data, upgrades, and monitoring. That is why from an efficiency standpoint, it is best to go for a managed firewall solution.
Performance
It is more likely that your performance efficiencies will go up with a managed service proposition. Typically the provider will be able to negotiate a better deal with the vendor because it takes larger volumes. Managing all the firewall changes can be one of the most significant issues faced by many businesses. As with most things in IT, there is no simple solution for managing shifts, especially for firewalls. If your company lacks formal policies, you are better off with a managed firewall provider. The same goes if you don’t understand the network complexity or misinterpret the business risks of loose security processes.
If you want a solid firewall solution, consider the external factors that impact its performance. With a team of experts taking care of your firewall security, you have already won half the battle. That is because you get a more secure network environment and fewer responsibilities. With managed firewalls, you can expect the best procedures and policies along with technical control for enforcement and oversight.
Managed Firewall Cost vs. Control Tradeoffs
The cost and control aspects of managed and unmanaged services are in a direct relationship. If an enterprise wants to keep costs down, managed services will work better. This works because you don’t have to allocate costs and other internal resources for training your personnel. However, if your business needs hands-on control, it might be better to manage the firewall yourself.
If data security is paramount, you are better off maximizing control. Cyber-threats can cause irreversible damage and high revenue losses, so the extra cost can be worth it. Managed systems that offer less control but at a better cost are still effective at delivering a secure environment. Still, some companies might want to have more control over the firewall.
Firewall Management: Challenges Faced by Companies
In today’s world of information-driven businesses, many things can go wrong, especially with firewalls and network security. The network is so complex nowadays that one misstep on a critical firewall can cause an outage. It can also expose you to cyber attacks. Improperly managed firewalls create the most significant risks for organizations, and some of the common mistakes made are:
- Outdated firewall rules that leave room for cyber-attacks and unauthorized access
- Non-compliant industry and government regulations in terms of cybersecurity
- Improper firewall rule changes that lead to breaking business applications
Network complexity and your team’s other duties add up. As a result, firewall management becomes a business challenge that needs proper attention. Here are some of the major challenges faced by companies.
Assessing the risk of firewall policy
Not understanding exactly what the firewall is doing is often the leading cause of firewall policy risks. Even if applications are working and traffic is flowing, there is a high chance that you are getting unnecessary exposure. Everything you and your team change regarding firewall policies can either move your network towards better security or increased risks. To avoid situations like this, make sure your company understands what’s at stake. Then use innovative firewall architectures to your advantage.
Managing firewall changes
When IT infrastructure is constantly in flux, managing all the changes can be a big challenge for many businesses. Poorly managed changes can lead to serious risks, such as blocked legitimate traffic, offline networks, or hacked companies. To properly manage firewall changes, you need to use a good set of tools in the right ways. From well-documented procedures and policies along with technical control, you can overcome the challenge of firewall changes.
Keeping up with rules and regulations
Many businesses admit that keeping up with compliance regulations, business partners, and internal policy requirements is a challenge. Security regulations such as GLBA, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS all aim to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information. Given the complexity of information security regulations and policies, businesses can’t afford to ignore what the rules demand and what’s at stake.
Conclusion
Deciding between managing your next-generation firewall internally or handing it over to an expert is relatively simple. It comes down to understanding its importance and what each solution has to offer. Companies need to ensure that they have an answer to fight threats in place. The good news is that today’s firewalls protect networks better than ever. There is a solution for each company that suits their needs and type.
Organizations must adopt solutions that can evolve with the threat landscape. Best security practices and solutions arrive when companies take a step back and scrutinize their security stance. That is how they make sure their defense systems evolve to mitigate threats effectively.
Why have my Firewall Managed by Volico?
Firewall management is an ongoing process that requires IT security expertise and having a poorly configured firewall is like not having a firewall at all. Firewalls continue to be a great first line of defense in your cybersecurity strategy. However, ongoing management of the devices can be time-consuming and resource intensive. Our certified engineers can take over the everyday management tasks so your team can focus on more strategic business issues.
