(November 13, 2023) First introduced in the late 1980s, the firewall is one of the original network security tools — and it remains one of the most important. However, improperly managed firewalls open the door to security breaches and regulatory failures.
Firewalls exist to prevent unauthorized network access. Naturally, they have become more complex and sophisticated in response to increasingly treacherous threats. Today’s next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) offer a far more comprehensive set of security features than their precursors. With that comes the need for much greater levels of monitoring, management, and updating.
Many organizations aren’t meeting those requirements.
Security industry experts say too many organizations treat firewalls as plug-and-play solutions, failing to update them or conduct basic maintenance. Firewall interfaces tend to be complex and unintuitive, increasing the likelihood of mistakes. Administrators often lack the visibility needed to identify misconfigurations and overly permissive rules.
The network security model is far more complex than it used to be, too. Gone are the days when the primary goal was to scan any traffic from outside the network and block it if it was malicious. Today, organizations access scores of different cloud-based and hosted applications. Instead of controlling application usage, organizations are concerned with providing enough bandwidth to ensure a high-quality user experience.
The Critical Importance of Audits
Aggravating the problem is the fact that few organizations regularly conduct audits to ensure firewalls are up-to-date and working properly. Surveys find most organizations audit their firewalls no more than once a year, and up to 20 percent never audit. There are also reports of widespread cheating on audits by organizations that feel the process is too complex and time-consuming. In many cases, those who say they audit their firewalls are doing nothing more than checking a box indicating there’s a firewall in place.
Failing to audit is risky on a number of fronts. In addition to increased exposure to security threats, you can also face significant penalties for regulatory violations. PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOX, and many other data privacy standards make firewall audits a part of the compliance requirements.
In truth, conducting a rigorous firewall audit is time-consuming and complex. It should involve a thorough examination of firewall rules, an assessment of the change process, and an analysis of activity logs to identify rule violations and abnormal traffic patterns. An audit should also identify outdated access rules and encryption protocols, decommissioned servers, unneeded user accounts, and more.
The Value of Managed Services
While vital, such a thorough firewall management process is a burden for organizations with limited IT staff. An IT generalist may lack the expertise to determine if a current firewall policy provides adequate protection in an ever-evolving threat landscape.
This is why organizations increasingly turn to managed services providers (MSPs) for firewall management. An MSP with specific expertise in firewall configuration and policy development can provide the dedicated monitoring and management needed to ensure your firewall is properly patched, updated, and audited.
Additionally, ongoing monitoring will produce much greater insight than most companies ever get from their firewalls. Your service provider will review and analyze logs and events and provide regular reports about firewall performance, active users, and traffic patterns. Any potentially threatening trends will generate alerts.
A firewall is one of the oldest and most important elements of network security, but it isn’t a set-and-forget solution. It requires careful configuration, continual monitoring, and ongoing updates. Through our managed security services, Mainstream can support your firewall requirements as part of a comprehensive network security strategy. Let us help you improve firewall management to thwart advanced threats while improving regulatory compliance.
ABOUT MAINSTREAM TECHNOLOGIES
Mainstream Technologies delivers a full range of technology services in Arkansas and the surrounding region including managed technology services and consulting, custom software development, and cybersecurity services. We also offer industry-leading data center services in our Little Rock facilities. Established in 1996, Mainstream has earned a reputation for delivering quality, reliable, and professional technology services for public and private-sector customers across the United States.
Jeff Pracht
IT Business Development Manager
(479) 715-8629 Office
(501) 529-0008 Mobile
