The Top 5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Strong Firewall

July 24, 2024

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Cyber security threats are on the rise. The data held by businesses is a prime target for criminals, and it can be a costly mistake if your network allows a threat to access sensitive information.

The latest predictions show that data breaches are up 72% since 2022. In an increasingly-online world, it’s crucial for businesses to do everything they can to prevent these attacks.

Firewalls are the first line of defence when it comes to cyber security. They filter out unwanted network traffic and can prevent an attack before it even begins.

In this article, we’ll see the top 5 reasons why your business needs a strong firewall, and how they can reduce your risk of a cyber attack.

What is a Firewall?

A firewall is a network security system that protects your trusted network from unauthorised access. The firewall does this by inspecting all the data that passes in and out of the network. It confirms that the traffic is legitimate, and disallows any suspicious activity.

Firewalls can be either software or hardware:

Hardware firewalls operate on their own device. Because they operate on dedicated hardware, these types of firewalls help to maintain peak network performance. This can be a critical factor for enterprises that rely on internal networks.

Software firewalls can be installed on computers, virtual machines and in the cloud. They perform the same function as hardware firewalls, but they offer greater flexibility in how they are deployed. The ability to install software firewalls on the cloud and in virtual work environments makes them well-suited to modern businesses.

Generally speaking, enterprises should be investing in both software and hardware firewalls. This ensures maximum security while benefiting from the flexibility of a software solution.

The Top 5 Reasons Why Your Business Needs a Strong Firewall

1. A Firewall Is Your First Line of Defence

A firewall acts as a barrier between your internal business network and the rest of the internet. Without a firewall, it is possible for external users to access your network and private business assets.

They do this by inspecting data that moves in or out of your network. The data is compared against an existing set of algorithms and rules that can determine whether the traffic is legitimate or not.

If the traffic is illegitimate or suspicious, the firewall can block access or direct the user to a particular part of the network.

While many organisations use Network Address Translation (NAT) to bridge Internet and external IP addresses, NAT will not block incoming traffic. Only a firewall can do that. Without a firewall, your organisation’s assets and data are at risk.

2. A Firewall Lets You Block Access to Unapproved Websites

In addition to stopping unauthorised external users from accessing your network, a firewall can stop your users from accessing specific external websites. For instance, you could set up a policy that blocks access to social media sites from your network.

Blocking social media and other time wasting websites is one way to keep your employees on track. More importantly though, a firewall can be used to block harmful websites that are a known security risk (e.g. adult websites, gambling sites).

Stopping employees from visiting certain websites can prevent external threats from accessing your network. It also prevents employees from falling victim to scams such as phishing or social engineering. With employees being the cause of about 35% of all cybersecurity breaches, minimising your risk is always a good idea.

3. A Firewall Can Protect Your Business From Malicious Code

Strong firewalls inspect the traffic going into and out of your network. They identify and block viruses, worms, spam and other unwanted internet traffic.

The firewall will also log intrusion attempts, as well as other violations of business policies. This enables you to examine unauthorised access attempts and other suspicious activity. Once you’ve analysed the data, you can alter your firewall settings to become even more effective.

Many firewalls also let you maintain a list of known malicious applications and known safe applications. They block the malicious applications while enabling the safe ones. This can reduce the demand on your IT team by allowing them to set network-level permissions for approved applications and traffic.

4. You Can Use a Firewall to Meter Bandwidth

In addition to blocking unwanted traffic and websites, a firewall can be used to meter and limit network bandwidth flowing through it. For example, you can limit the network bandwidth allowed for things like non-business videos, music and images.

This reduces time-wasting activities and reserves bandwidth for higher priority business traffic.

A firewall’s usage logs can also tell you how and where your bandwidth is being used. That can be a useful tool if you are analysing where employees spend their time, or whether you can take additional measures to improve productivity.

5. You Can Use a Firewall to Provide VPN Services

Many firewalls provide site-to-site connectivity through Virtual Private Network (VPN) services. Through this VPN functionality, mobile device users and users at remote sites can securely access your internal network resources.

VPN functionality is especially useful to modern enterprises with increasingly decentralised workforces. If your employees work remotely, operating a VPN improves security and helps you maintain security standards across devices that

Firewalls Are the First Step in Your Broader Cyber Security Strategy

Firewalls are the foundation of an effective cyber security strategy. They are your business’ first line of defence against hackers and malicious network traffic.

The right solution can save you millions of dollars in security breaches, and Surety IT can help you select the right firewall products.
Surety IT provides managed IT services to enterprises throughout Australia. As part of our services, we can work with you to develop a cyber security strategy that protects your business against known and unknown threats.

We recommend a variety of hardware and software firewalls, depending on your application. Contact us to find out more, or book a cyber security consultation with Surety IT!

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About the author:

Ash Klemm

Ash has over 20 years of experience in sales and marketing. His journey from a casual salesperson at Chandlers to State Manager at a national IT distribution company, while battling health issues, including a double lung transplant in 2015, gave him the experience, know-how, tenacity, and marketing insight, to find solutions and help businesses grow. After spending several years in the ivory tower of state management, Ash missed the genuine connection of face to face meetings and helping make a difference to businesses in need. His authentic, conversational, and easy-going nature helps our customers feel at ease and shows them we are a brand to trust. Ash spends his days advocating for our customers to ensure they receive the best possible service in a timely fashion. Ash is also the in house chair builder. His curiosity and natural problem-solving ability make him the perfect first call for all our new customers to help determine what is wrong, how Surety IT can help and what the best solutions are moving forward.