An introduction to NGFWs
Traditional firewalls primarily monitor network traffic based on source and destination IP addresses, ports, and basic protocols (e.g., TCP and UDP). While effective in the past, traditional firewalls lack the sophistication to combat modern cyber threats, which often disguise themselves and utilize complex attack techniques. NGFWs have emerged as an advanced line of defense to meet this challenge, significantly expanding the depth and flexibility of network protection.
The key differentiators of NGFWs
Let’s explore the core features that set NGFWs apart and give IT auditors the tools to conduct comprehensive assessments of their effectiveness:
- Application awareness: NGFWs do a great job of identifying the specific applications traversing a network (e.g., Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and proprietary internal software). For IT auditors, this means the following:
- Precise control: Policies can be created to allow, block, or control traffic based...
