Understanding Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS): Definition and Functioning

A firewall serves as a barrier to unapproved network traffic. 

Additional organizational security policies are enforced to achieve this, including active traffic monitoring of incoming and outgoing traffic. 

Firewalls were initially implemented internally to safeguard local networks, but the modernization of this functionality was necessary due to the evolving cyber environment.

The 7th layer of the OSI model now contains an entirely new subset of next-generation firewalls (NGFW). 

Consequently, the capabilities included intrusion prevention systems, DNS security solutions, advanced threat prevention, and access controls. A firewall creates a remotely delivered cybersecurity solution licensed on a subscription basis as a Service or FWaaS.

What is Firewall as a service?

Network security technology known as “firewall as a service” (FWaaS) describes a cloud firewall that offers advanced Layer 7/next-generation firewall (NGFW) capabilities, including access controls like URL filtering, advanced threat prevention, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and DNS security.

A firewall as a service is a product or service that businesses can purchase to protect their network from external threats.

Sometimes, doing this is preferable to building your physical infrastructure for security management.

FWaaS goes beyond merely virtualizing a network firewall appliance.

With the help of FWaaS, businesses can eliminate firewall appliances, streamline their IT infrastructure, and enhance cybersecurity in general.

FWaaS is very similar to an on-premises hardware firewall in many ways.

It has distinct benefits, like the capacity to scale almost instantly to accommodate a growing network.

It optimizes DNS resolution to improve user experience and cloud application performance—crucial for CDN-based apps.

It keeps a thorough log of every session and employs advanced analytics to correlate events and reveal threats and vulnerabilities for all users, applications, and locations from a single console.

What are Firewall as a Service Features?

Web filtering, advanced threat protection (ATP), intrusion prevention system (IPS), and Domain Name System (DNS) security are all features of the hyper-scale next-generation firewall (NGFW) solution known as FWaaS.

• You can fully secure and monitor your company’s most crucial resources from a single dashboard.
• Provide secure, seamless access to the company’s networks and resources for users working remotely or away from the office.
• Create individualized IPS signatures and quickly deploy them to locate and thwart specific, targeted threats.
• Using centralized policy management, create adaptable access policies for PaaS/IaaS and cloud services.
• As soon as evasive and encrypted cyber threats are detected in traffic on strange ports, they must be stopped.
• Avoid malware, spyware, known vulnerability exploits, and malicious URLs while analyzing traffic.
• Check your server’s security, get alerts when something strange happens, and gather IP address intelligence.
• Using quick and effective intelligent TLS inspection, a sizable blind spot can be eliminated.
• Users, devices, and applications—even those that are encrypted—must be seen to detect and stop threats.
• It keeps an eye out for programs that behave suspiciously while simultaneously detecting and stopping internet attacks.
• Quality of Service (QoS) and advanced application-based routing path selection capabilities are offered.

What benefits of Firewall as a Service?

• Increased Flexibility
• Improved Scalability
• Flexible Deployment and Operating Expense (OpEx) Consumption Model
• Simplified Deployment and Maintenance
• Unified Security Policy Deployed via the Cloud
  

  Why Do Organizations Need FWaaS?

• Firewalls can protect cloud data.
• Using a firewall, you can prevent access to websites that are not authorized.
• Enhanced network efficiency
• VPN services may be offered through a firewall
• Through the use of firewalls, you can restrict bandwidth usage.
• Industry regulations compliance
• Simplified Management

The cloud service provider  will manage both your solution’s hardware infrastructure and security in the cloud.For many businesses, service-based architectures are essential because they let them expand as needed without worrying about provisioning new hardware.

 

Blog By : Priyanka Rana