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Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)

Last Updated January 14, 2022 7:10 pm
Sam Ingalls
Written by Sam Ingalls

For the cloud-first organization, Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) brings all the features of next-generation firewalls to a convenient and scalable SaaS solution. 

FWaaS is increasingly seen as a part of solutions like secure access service edge (SASE) and zero trust network access (ZTNA). FWaaS offerings mean organizations can easily manage deployment and policy enforcement from a web-based user interface like other SaaS solutions. Clients can purchase advanced firewall capabilities alone or as a comprehensive security solution.

What is Firewall as a Service (FWaaS)?

Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) is a cloud-deployed and software-based cyber security tool offering traditional and next-generation firewall (NGFW) capabilities to organizations for traffic inspection and threat protection. FWaaS solutions are increasingly necessary for organizations with hybrid cloud infrastructure to protect applications and data.

FWaaS Features

  • Cloud-based service offering flexibility in contracting, scalability, and managed services
  • Advanced threat prevention using the latest anti-virus, anti-spam, and phishing detection
  • Access control includes allowing listing and deny listing for specific IP address
  • Visibility and protection into traffic up to the application layer (L7)
  • Central management and policy enforcement for cloud network traffic
  • Seamless deployment, configuration management, and ongoing maintenance
  • High availability through cloud service providers redundancy, meaning consistent uptime
Also read: Top Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) Vendors for 2022 | eSecurity Planet

FWaaS vs. Traditional Firewalls

Firewalls as a Service have many of the same features that modern on-premises and virtual firewalls offer for managing traffic flow between internal and outside networks. Stateful firewall features shared by FWaaS and traditional firewalls include network monitoring, packet filtering, Internet Protocol security (IPsec), IP mapping features, and support for secure sockets layer virtual private network (SSL VPN).

Relative to the universe of traditional firewalls – including a long list of legacy physical appliances – FWaaS solutions offer the latest firewall and cloud security features needed to protect hybrid environments. The recent development and software-based nature of FWaaS make it a flexible and advanced choice.

Top FWaaS Vendors

Read more: Top Web Application Firewall (WAF) Solutions for 2022 | eSecurity Planet

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Sam Ingalls
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Sam Ingalls

Sam Ingalls is an award-winning writer and researcher covering enterprise technology, cybersecurity, data centers, and IT trends, for eSecurity Planet, TechRepublic, ServerWatch, Webopedia, and Channel Insider.

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