What is Next Generation Firewall NGFW?
Next Generation Firewall NGFW Definition: An advanced firewall that goes beyond traditional packet filtering, offering deep-packet inspection and integrated security features.
Understanding Next Generation Firewall NGFW
Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) evolved to address the limitations of traditional firewalls, which became ineffective as applications began using dynamic ports and encrypted connections to bypass simple port-based filtering. NGFWs combine traditional firewall capabilities with additional features like deep packet inspection, intrusion prevention, application awareness, and integrated threat intelligence. They can identify and control applications regardless of port, protocol, or encryption, distinguishing between, for example, approved videoconferencing tools and risky file-sharing applications even if both use HTTPS on port 443. Advanced NGFWs include user identity awareness, tying network activity to specific users rather than just IP addresses, and can decrypt and inspect encrypted traffic to find hidden threats. While powerful, they introduce challenges around performance (inspecting encrypted traffic is computationally intensive) and privacy (some organizations have policies against decrypting certain traffic types). Effective NGFW deployment requires careful planning around network architecture, traffic flows, and performance requirements.