Firewall protection

We need a firewall for security and logically it is required by NIS2. You can also consider cloud hosted firewalls if most of your applications are cloud hosted or distributed. Check every vendor to learn more about them.

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On this page Kappa Data informs you here why we need a firewall for security and logically it is required by NIS2. You can also consider cloud hosted firewalls if most of your applications are cloud hosted or distributed. Check every vendor to learn more about them.

From history to the future, what is a firewall?

Meanwhile, we have been working with firewalls in enterprises for years. The first devices could open and close gates. Soon, more intelligence was needed and we came up with terms such as IPS, UTM and later NextGen. Whichever way you look at it, it remained an on-prem firewall with more and better functionalities. The emergence of virtual appliances was not an immediate revolution, but the possibilities became more flexible. For the first few years, the way of firewalling did not change with those virtual appliances, but there was a migration to data centres where rack space proved scarce.

During the same period, the term ‘As A Service’ gained popularity. You could buy almost anything as a service, so also a firewall. The option was there to rent a firewall, or better, to rent the functionality. The special thing about this evolution was that you could bundle this service into a package that you could, for example, charge per user instead of per site.

The latest trend in this story is SASE, with Firewall-As-A-Service (FWaas) being only a small but not underestimated part of a broader spectrum. Today, we mainly talk about ‘intuitive central management’, ‘simplification’, ‘flexibility’ and ‘transparency’, all at a predictable cost per month or per year. Oh well, actually we have always talked about this, only now it is taking on a contemporary form.

Things – both for partners and end users – are not getting any easier. Onprem firewalls have not disappeared. Not everyone wants to work in/or via the cloud. But then, do you want (central) management in the cloud? There are plenty of providers, each with their own strengths and points where others are slightly stronger. Making the correct choice is not always that obvious.

Let’s take a look at Kappa Data’s portfolio.

Firewall protection offered by Kappa Data

Firewalls at Barracuda Networks

The first form are the CloudGen firewalls. These can be managed on the box or centrally. The central platform is a virtual machine and so it can also be installed onprem if required. Kappa Data offers its management platform to relieve the partner of the burden of managing the platform itself. Thanks to this platform (Control Center), you have backups of the configuration, centrally controlled policies and objects, a status overview, … Barracuda CloudGen firewalls are very comprehensive and granularly configurable. These appliances are particularly strong at optimising their VPN tunnels thanks to their proprietary TINA protocol. Through the Kappa Data Flex programme, you can also (re)rent firewalls.

Besides this more traditional form, they also have the SASE variant. Under the name SecureEdge, Barracuda offers cloud-connected firewalls. The idea is to make these work together via a cloudbased web-managed platform. Unlike the CloudGen Firewall models, these appliances are optimised for a service-based model.

Cato Networks Firewall protection

Essentially, CATO is not a firewall vendor but a SASE vendor. As touched on earlier, this is a fully service-based model where the you rent firewall services from the vendor. All the intelligence happens in the data centre, so your onprem doesn’t need to install more than a small box for a full OPEX model. The Firewall as a Service here is fully and natively cloud-based, as you can see on the top-right of the picture above

Juniper Firewalls

Speaking of data centre performance, we immediately think of Juniper. This player has had a foothold in data centres large and small for years. One of their particular strengths is speed. When we talk about speed in IT, many people think of bandwidth, but it’s actually about latency. You can buy speed with a higher model. With latency, it’s a bit more difficult.

You can take that great experience from Juniper to smaller environments. Smaller companies today expect as good performance as large companies, but at a lower price, of course. With Juniper, you’re on top speed and stability.

Sophos Firewall protection

The added value of a player like Sophos is in a few areas. An intuitive cloud hosted and web-based all-in-one management platform that goes across all their products is an asset in medium to small environments. The components work closely together where the word synergy really comes into its own.

With a separate processor specifically for TLS calculations, Sophos plays along with the biggest firewalls, including in terms of TLS interception and tunnelling technolgy.

Stormshield Firewall

As part of the French group Airbus, you find yourself with aircraft that have to meet high-standard requirements and hardened certifications. At Stormshield, you won’t immediately find state-of-the-art gadgets that only a handful of players still have, but you get stability and reliability in return. An intuitive interface and hyper-attractive price make Stormshield a surprising challenger at every offering.

Speak to a Kappa Data representative if you are specifically looking for European products.

Why considering a Firewall?

A firewall is an essential part of keeping your computer systems and networks safe from unauthorized access and cyber threats. Here’s why having a firewall is important and what other options you might consider:

Firewalls are crucial because they control the flow of data in and out of your network, acting as a gatekeeper. They block unwanted traffic and allow only the safe and necessary data to pass through. This helps to prevent hackers and malicious software from accessing your systems. Firewalls also protect your sensitive data from being stolen or sent out of your network without your permission. Additionally, by managing network traffic efficiently, firewalls can help maintain good network performance.

Alternatives to Firewalls:

While firewalls are vital, there are other security measures that can also help protect your network. Here are some alternatives:

Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDS/IPS): These systems monitor your network for suspicious activity and can automatically block potential threats.
Antivirus and Antimalware Software: These programs scan your devices for malicious software and remove it to keep your system clean and safe.
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): VPNs encrypt your internet connection, making it secure and private, especially useful for remote access.
Endpoint Security Solutions: These include various tools to protect individual devices, like antivirus software and encryption programs.
Network Access Control (NAC): This ensures that only authorized and compliant devices can connect to your network, adding an extra layer of security.
Zero Trust Security Models: This approach assumes that no user or device is trusted by default and continuously verifies every access request as if it comes from an open network.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): MFA requires users to verify their identity in multiple ways before accessing your network, adding a strong layer of protection.

NIS2 requirements

Now how does this all belong in the NIS2 story. There are several items that are ticked off by a firewall. Apart from general network security, the firewall often also takes on the task of Access Control. They are responsible for external access, assigning necessary rights, shielding business-critical information and granting users only minimal rights.

Furthermore, firewalls can control and restrict traffic between IP subnets (segmentation) and VLANs (segregation), although in practice the two usually go hand in hand.

Frequently asked questions

Check our FAQ section where you can find the first questions that have been asked to us during the last months.

How are firewalls relevant to the NIS2 law?
Firewalls are relevant to the NIS2 law because they are a critical component of the security measures that organizations must implement to protect their network and information systems. Firewalls help ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of the data and services that are essential for complying with NIS2 requirements.
How can organizations ensure their firewalls are compliant with NIS2 requirements?
Organizations can ensure their firewalls are compliant with NIS2 requirements by:
- Regularly updating firewall software: Ensuring that firewalls are running the latest security patches and updates.
- Configuring robust security policies: Implementing and maintaining strict access control and traffic filtering rules.
- Performing regular audits and assessments: Conducting security audits to identify and remediate vulnerabilities.
- Monitoring and logging: Continuously monitoring network traffic and maintaining logs for analysis and compliance reporting.
How do firewalls enhance cybersecurity in an organization?
Firewalls enhance cybersecurity by:
- Blocking unauthorized access: Preventing unauthorized users from accessing private networks.
- Filtering traffic: Allowing or blocking specific traffic based on security policies.
- Monitoring network activity: Logging and analyzing traffic patterns to detect suspicious activity.
- Protecting against attacks: Shielding the network from threats such as malware, phishing, and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.
How do next-generation firewalls (NGFW) enhance compliance with NIS2?
Next-generation firewalls (NGFW) enhance compliance with NIS2 by offering advanced security features that go beyond traditional firewalls, such as:
- Deep packet inspection: Analyzing the contents of data packets to detect and block sophisticated threats.
- Intrusion prevention systems (IPS): Identifying and preventing potential security breaches in real-time.
- Application control: Managing and securing application traffic based on policies.
- Integrated threat intelligence: Using real-time threat intelligence to protect against emerging threats.
What is a firewall and what role does it play in network security?
A firewall is a network security device that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules. Its primary role is to establish a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, such as the internet, to prevent unauthorized access and protect against cyber threats.
What specific requirements of the NIS2 law can firewalls help address?
Firewalls can help address several specific requirements of the NIS2 law, including:
- Risk management: By mitigating the risk of unauthorized access and cyber attacks.
- Incident response: By logging and monitoring network activity, which aids in the detection and response to security incidents.
- System security: By enforcing security policies and protecting critical systems from external threats.
- Continuity of services: By preventing disruptions caused by cyber attacks, thus ensuring the continuous operation of essential services.

Contact us for a demo

Are you curious to learn how Kappa Data can help you with Firewall solutions of different brand and for every type of organization? Contact us for a demo via the below button.