The Pros and Cons of Managed Firewalls

The Pros and Cons of Managed Firewalls

The recent remote work explosion driven by the COVID pandemic has forced many organizations to reconsider how they provide network security. The incredible proliferation of potential attack vectors and constantly changing types of attacks present in such a heavily distributed computing environment mean that keeping firewalls up to date has become a burden on security teams that's heavier than ever.

Firewall configurations are a touchy subject. Every network security professional has their preferred hardware and software, and we can all share horror stories about challenges we've experienced in their absence.


In this article, I'll examine the pros and cons of managed firewalls (MFWs) to help make the decision a little easier for your team.


What Are Managed Firewall Services?


MFW services typically provide on-demand, administration, monitoring, maintenance, and management of your firewall. These services are available for both cloud-based and on-premises firewalls.

The typical MFW service provider will offer services such as:


  • Firewall system health monitoring and alerting

  • Service and incident management

  • Software lifecycle management (updates, patches, etc.)

  • Security policy implementation, reporting, analysis and remediation

  • System vulnerability checks and security reviews

  • Network traffic monitoring

  • "Think of a managed firewall service as bringing in an expert, rather than outsourcing. You're partnering with someone with decades of experience and advanced training on your infrastructure in order to secure every last packet. Network security is hard, and a lot of times the easiest way to achieve your requirements is through a specialist." —Eddie Doyle, Cybersecurity Evangelist, Check Point


    What Are the Pros and Cons of Managed Firewall Services?


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