Why Cloud Firewalls Offer Optimum Safety for Tech-Driven Enterprises

Firewalls have long played a vital role in enterprise-level security, helping track and control the flow of data to the network in a way that helps stop potential threats before they can do damage to the business.

Historically, businesses would rely on on-premises firewalls that were installed using physical hardware. Now, however, in line with rising adoption of other cloud technology offerings, cloud firewalls have become the go-to solution for many businesses.

These safety and security solutions are more important than ever, especially in light of the fact that over 480,000 cyberattacks occur each year in the U.S. For enterprises determined to protect their data and their reputation, cloud firewalls represent an essential investment.

How Cloud Firewalls Differ From Traditional Firewalls

The history of firewalls actually dates back to before the internet even became commonplace for enterprises. The first firewalls were developed , judging network layers based on their connection type, source and destination. Application firewalls emerged in the 1990s to provide more thorough security inspections.

These early firewalls were installed at the enterprise business location as a physical device that would be connected between the internet connection (such as the router or modem) and the internal network and its devices. The firewall would be manually configured with protocols that guided its operations. This configuration has remained commonplace ever since.

While these firewalls were often sufficient in the past, today's cyber threats are typically more sophisticated, and more complex and expensive firewalls are needed for businesses that continue to rely on physical hardware.

A cloud firewall, on the other hand, operates under a service model similar to other cloud-based tools. Also known as next-generation firewalls, cloud firewalls achieve the same basic goal as traditional firewalls — managing the flow of data in and out of the network. In this case, however, the focus of protection also encompasses the cloud apps, platforms and infrastructure that today's businesses increasingly rely on.

With a cloud firewall, physical hardware is still involved, but it is managed offsite by a third party provider. The cloud firewall creates a virtual barrier that can protect both cloud-based systems and on-premises network infrastructure at a cloud level. Cloud firewalls can even protect the most complex technology setups that include public and private clouds as well as traditional infrastructure.

Advantages of Cloud Firewalls

Cloud firewalls are uniquely positioned to address the needs of today's tech-focused businesses. Enterprise businesses use an average of 130 SaaS tools, which means much of their data is handled outside of their internal network. A cloud firewall is designed to filter traffic based on whether someone is an authorized user.

After all, the idea of a cloud application is that it can be used anywhere and anytime. A cloud firewall ensures that the appropriate level of protection is provided for all cloud tools that a business relies on.

Cloud firewalls also help firewall deployment and scalability become more manageable for enterprises. Rather than requiring a physical installation, a cloud firewall can be deployed virtually and accessed through a web interface.

The firewall can then be scaled based on the enterprise's traffic needs, without needing to worry about updating or adding hardware. The cloud provider manages the firewall through its own centralized console, including distributing updated security protocols and configurations. The provider also handles all maintenance, taking these responsibilities out of the hands of business leaders.

In addition to providing a security system that is better tailored to today's tech use, the subscription model used by cloud firewall systems tends to be more manageable for a business' cash flow in comparison to the significant upfront costs (and ongoing maintenance and upgrades) associated with physical firewall hardware. This also reduces the burden on the enterprise's own IT team.

A Smarter Approach to Security

While the basic premise of how cloud firewalls function is worthwhile, the emphasis on intelligent systems further reduces the risk of successful attacks. Cloud firewalls utilize an existing database of known threats, while also relying on their own data (such as past incidents and other in-house activity) that makes them better able to predict future threats.

Many cloud firewalls make use of technologies such as intrusion prevention systems (which detect and block attacks), deep packet inspections (which are more effective at detecting malware) and application controls (which control and block application access as needed).

These elements significantly lower the risk of a security breach for both internal and external threats, ensuring that users are segmented in terms of which areas of the network they can access, or are blocked entirely. This is especially valuable for businesses that use a hybrid work model, as the firewall ensures uniform access and protection for remote employees.

Ensuring Cloud Security

As enterprises become even more tech-driven (and increasingly reliant on cloud services), the value of a cloud firewall cannot be overlooked. Organizations that implement a cloud firewall are better positioned to prevent data leaks, ensure appropriate access to their network and other cloud resources and keep their security protocols up to date and appropriately scaled to their business needs.

By taking advantage of this essential resource, enterprises can enhance their overall security profile and give their network a meaningful and lasting boost.

The post Why Cloud Firewalls Offer Optimum Safety for Tech-Driven Enterprises appeared first on Techopedia.