Do you need help on how to choose a firewall for your small business? There are a plethora of choices available on the web. It can be overwhelming. So here are the features of a firewall that you should look for.
Guide on How to Choose a Firewall
There are some basic things to keep in mind while choosing the right firewall for your small business network. Some firewalls offer a free basic version, but you might have to pay for advanced features. So, it is important to know what are the important features that might help your business grow.
A firewall is a hardware or software device which sits between your network and the Internet and controls traffic flow between them. If you are using a router, it most likely has an integrated firewall.
Most of the firewalls have similar features, but their configurations can vary. So, it is good to know how to choose a firewall for your small business.
1. UTM or Unified Threat Management
A UTM or Unified Threat Management firewall provides a combination of different security features in a single package. Different packages have different features.
Also, a UTM Firewall offers a complete security solution by combining web filtering, intrusion prevention, anti-virus, anti-spam, VPN, and content filtering features in one package.
2. Consider the number of users
Another factor to consider is the number of users on the network. The amount of traffic on the business network will also determine the type of firewall. If your business is a start-up and you have a limited budget, it is advisable to go for a basic firewall or gateway firewall.
However, if you have a large number of employees and heavy traffic, you should consider an application-level gateway firewall or a UTM Firewall.
3. Do you want to monitor employees?
If you want to monitor employee Internet activity, then you must get an application-level gateway firewall. The application-level gateway firewall allows administrators to monitor and block individual applications such as Facebook, YouTube, and Skype.
4. What kind of security do you want?
Depending on the number of threats your business network faces, there are three kinds of firewalls: Packet Filter Firewall, Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) Firewall, and Application-level Gateway Firewall. Packet Filter Firewalls provide basic protection and block all services and ports. SPI Firewalls provide enhanced protection and allow you to configure services and ports individually.
5. Does it have an accurate Random Access Memory (RAM)?
A firewall with accurate RAM is an important feature. An accurate RAM allows the firewall to store information on all the users and applications for proper identification.
6. What kind of encryption does it support?
Most of the modern firewalls support SSL, IPSec, PPTP, etc. SSL is often used for securing web traffic. IPSec is suitable for protecting large volumes of data between two networks. PPTP is used to connect remote users to their offices or homes securely.
7. Does it come with features to detect attacks?
One of the most important features of a firewall is to detect attacks on your network and block them before they can cause any damage. The firewall should also be capable of detecting new types of attacks as they emerge.
8. Is it easy to configure and maintain?
If you are looking for a firewall, which can be easily configured and maintained by an end-user, then you should go for a stateful firewall. A stateful firewall allows the end-user to set rules and monitor traffic using a web browser. If you cannot afford a stateful firewall, then you can also go for an SPI firewall or a UTM Firewall which has web-based management features.
