Criteria for Evaluating Next-Generation Firewalls

This white paper outlines the essential criteria for evaluating next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) in the context of increasing cybersecurity demands due to the hybrid workforce and cloud service adoption. It emphasizes the importance of integrating AI-powered security services that enhance traditional firewall capabilities by providing proactive threat detection. The paper details seven key criteria for selecting NGFWs, including threat protection performance, single-pane-of-glass management, and the necessity for a broader security strategy that incorporates additional solutions like SD-WAN and ZTNA. It also discusses operational considerations such as price/performance ratios and the significance of specialized application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) in ensuring efficient security functions. The document stresses the need for independent third-party validation to avoid reliance on vendor claims. By addressing these criteria, organizations can ensure robust security across their distributed networks while maintaining performance and minimizing operational costs.