Designed to protect computer networks against unauthorized access, firewalls have been an enterprise battleground for many years. The firewall may be implemented as a form of hardware, software, or a combination of the two. After the “classic” firewall market became somewhat saturated, developers released new and innovative solutions, called next-generation firewalls (NGFW). In theory, every organization needs a firewall. But is that still true in 2022? Is the world still using firewalls in 2022?
Understanding the Role of Firewalls in Network Security
Network firewalls protect computer networks against unauthorized access, not to mention the dangers of open and vulnerable network ports. Network firewalls are used everywhere: in homes, schools, businesses, and internal networks. A network firewall can also be configured to limit users’ access to external connections, such as parental controls or web page restrictions at work. Both features block access to a variety of content, including social media platforms, gambling sites, adult sites, etc.
A firewall constantly monitors all incoming and outgoing traffic when it is properly configured and used to its full potential. Some firewalls even allow you to exclude specific users and actions from being blocked. This granular approach allows the network administrator to manually configure defenses against various network threats.
Firewalls Are Not Stuck in the Past
With cyberattacks on the rise, businesses can choose between several types of firewalls and even employ multiple types simultaneously for a comprehensive security solution.
The main firewall types include:
Stateful Inspection Firewall
Stateful inspection, commonly referred to as dynamic packet filtering, is a firewall technology that manages access based on rules set by network administrators while providing full traffic monitoring.
Proxy Firewall
A proxy firewall is a connection point between a device and the Internet that offers additional security by concealing internal LAN addresses from the external environment. In a proxy server firewall environment, network requests from multiple clients appear to the outside as if they all originate from the same proxy server address.
Unified Threat Management (UTM)
Unified threat management (UTM) refers to a combination of multiple security features or services combined into a single device. For example, this configuration could incorporate virus and malware detection functionalities into a traditional inspection firewall. A UTM firewall is often a component in a network management package that might include other functions, such as cloud management.
Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)
Next-Generation Firewall goes beyond traditional approaches and offers much more sophisticated protection against all kinds of attacks. NGFWs offer network administrators a deeper awareness of and control over individual applications.
Firewall-As-A-Service
At its core, Firewall-As-a-Service functions as a cloud-hosted firewall, offering features like advanced packet inspection, application-level filtering, intrusion detection and prevention, and advanced threat protection. This type of firewall is preferred by many small and medium companies because it reduces costs by eliminating the need to buy, install, and support additional physical equipment.
Companies Are Spending More on Firewalls, Not Less
The COVID-19 pandemic forced several companies to allow their employees to work outside the offices. Because teleworking necessitates a different approach to data protection, organizations have turned to Next-Generation Firewalls to secure sensitive information. The increase in awareness about data security and privacy, coupled with the rising number of cyberattacks and fraud, forced businesses to upgrade their cybersecurity solutions. For this reason, the demand for network security firewall solutions across the globe is on an upward trend.
According to the Network Security Firewall Market report, published by Allied Market Research, the size of the global network security firewall market is projected to reach $24.34 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 21.6% from 2020 to 2030.
“Currently, North America holds the largest market share of network security firewall and its development. The network security firewall market is growing rapidly in the U.S., due to high acceptance of network solutions between businesses. In addition, surge in incidence of data breaches and the increase in financially targeted cyber-attacks have encouraged businesses to find pre-network security solutions. In addition, vendors of major solutions in the internet security market are from North America, thus creating high growth potential,” according to the same report.
Conclusion
Firewalls still represent the first line of defense in home and corporate network security. Without a doubt, technology has certainly evolved over the years, becoming more advanced. The use of network security firewalls is rising in many companies, as businesses are increasingly deploying cloud-native firewalls from Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) providers and Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) offerings hosted directly by vendors. So, are we still using firewalls in 2022? The answer is “YES!” Firewalls are still very useful.
