Cybersecurity has changed. Traditional perimeter-based security models no longer provide adequate protection to businesses and organizations. Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is the new gold standard in cybersecurity. In this model, trust is never assumed, and verification is always required for every user and device, regardless of their location.
Firewalls are an integral part of Zero Trust Architecture, and choosing the right one is essential to the security and safety of your business. In this blog, we’ll explain how firewalls work in ZTA and how to choose the right firewall for your business.
Traditional network security models focus on creating a secure perimeter to block intruders and potential threats from beyond the digital walls of an organization. However, with modern advancements in technology and cyberattacks, these models don’t deliver the protection they once did and now leave organizations exposed to threats.
This led to the creation of Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) which operates under the pretense that security threats can exist anywhere inside or outside of a network. ZTA creates more rigid verification, requiring users to verify their identity each time they access a device or network, hence the name “zero trust”. ZTA also employs ongoing monitoring and micro-segmentation to reduce exposed areas of a network and minimize the risk of breaches.
ZTA relies on multiple entity identification processes. This includes multi-factor authentication, endpoint security, and user data, such as tracking behavioral patterns and common or uncommon occurrences within a private network. Ultimately, ZTA minimizes the potential for cyberattacks, making networks and digital ecosystems much less venerable across the board.
Think of firewalls like gatekeepers or traffic controllers; at a fundamental level, they police what flows in and out of a network. Firewalls are network security devices or software that monitor and control traffic in and out of a network based on specific security rules.
Firewalls separate your trusted internal business network from the vast, external Internet that lays just beyond. When you and your team connect to the Internet to do research, conduct business with external people and entities, or any of the many functions you might use the Internet for, your firewall filters and blocks unwanted traffic. This ensures unauthorized users can’t access your network and potential malicious activity is blocked.
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Firewalls are what power micro-segmentation, a critical aspect of ZTA. Microsegmentation divides your network up into smaller, secure segments, each with its own predetermined access and security rules. This ensures that should a cyberattack occur, a malicious user couldn’t move unilaterally through your network accessing any information they wanted.
Instead, they would only have breached a tiny portion of your network, minimizing your network’s exposure area. By putting up digital walls not only around your network, but also within your network, micro-segmentation creates a “divide and conquer” like infrastructure that can’t be easily penetrated even if one line of defense becomes compromised.
With the rise of hybrid and remote work, many companies are navigating how to accommodate employees working in the office, from home, or from anywhere in the world with Wi-Fi access. Firewalls ensure your network is safe no matter where your team is working, by using encrypted Virtual Private Networks (VPS) to create secure remote access connections. This demands remote users and devices to undergo the same authentication and access processes as your on-premises users. VPNs are a revolutionary network feature, giving companies the ability to run safe, secure networks all over the globe.
Firewalls don’t just police the traffic in and out of your network, they keep detailed logs of network activities. These logs are extremely useful for auditing and tracking incident responses as they arise, providing a historical record of network and security events. This enables businesses to investigate breaches, stay up to date with regulations, and adjust security policies accordingly.
Firewalls also work like a vigilant pair of eyes, looking out for your network and collecting user behavior insights to help your security team detect future threats. Advanced firewalls can even use threat intelligence feeds and machine learning functions to spot known threats and help your security respond in real time.
Firewalls are the Swiss army knives of network security. As a critical part of ZTA, they protect your network from the inside out, police traffic and access, monitor activity, and collect useful insights that help your security team evolve their threat protection techniques and best practices.
What are clear signs it might be time to upgrade your firewall to keep your network running safely and securely? Experiencing slow network performance or an overloaded CPU are common indicators that your firewall is outdated. You may be notified that your Operating System (OS) or firmware have expired or are nearing their end-of-life cycle. This usually means your firewall has become vulnerable to new threats and needs to be upgraded.
Adapting or growing your network to accommodate new employees or business infrastructure could also be a reason to upgrade your firewall. Your current solution might not be designed to handle a growing network.
Now that you understand the functions of firewalls, their role in supporting Zero Trust Architecture, and when it could be time to upgrade your firewall, you can begin determining how well your current firewall protects your network.
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