Is managing your own firewall still a good idea?

Here’s why it might not be.

If you’re still managing your own firewall, you’re well aware of how critical it is to securing your network and mitigating the risk of cyberattacks. Your firewall’s most important job is to prevent breaches and keep your organization safe. Your data isn’t the only thing at risk. Your business and reputation are also at stake.

So how do you know for sure that your current firewall system is enough? And is there a “right” time to switch to a managed firewall?

Here are some questions to help you find out:

• Do you have multiple firewalls across multiple locations?
• Do you struggle to find internal resources to manage your increasingly complex network?
• Is it challenging to audit your rules and configurations as regularly as you’d like?

If you answered yes to at least two of the above, your enterprise might be a good candidate for business firewall services and a managed firewall.

Managed firewall is just that: business firewall managed by an expert partner for real-time assurance that your firewall is working as well as it should to protect the network and defend against outside threats. Traditional managed firewall only monitors network events. Frontier Managed Firewall goes beyond that to monitor and proactively mitigate security threats. In the event of a cyberattack, a managed firewall can make all the difference in detecting a threat in a matter of hours or moments—rather than days. So you can prevent the attack before it occurs.

While the risk of cyberthreats is always looming, managed firewall offers lots of day-to-day benefits:

Save money. A managed firewall can save you the cost of equipment, resources and training for your own firewall system.

Stay on top of potential threats. You can’t protect what you can’t see. Firewall policies and configurations are constantly evolving. A managed firewall gives you comprehensive visibility and ensures you stay a step ahead of any possible threats to your network.

Ensure compliance. Security policy compliance is about more than access. It’s about real-time visibility and control. A managed firewall puts you in the driver’s seat.

Know that you’re never alone. An expert business firewall service partner means you get dedicated day-to-day support, as well as the critical help you need if you’re ever in crisis mode.

Protect and defend your data and your business. Your network never sleeps at night—but you deserve to. Managed firewall services mean you’re assured round-the-clock threat monitoring.

Stay on top of technology. Just as cyberthreats and malware become more sophisticated, so should the technology that protects your network. Managed firewall services provide regular upgrades to keep your data secure.

Access critical resources. With more than 500,000 open security positions nationwide, good talent is hard to find. With Frontier Managed Firewall, you’ll have the security support you need without having to find and train people yourself.

If you've been thinking about managed firewall, now is the time to start the process. The longer you wait, the greater the chance of an outside threat creeping in. Managing your own firewall might have been a great idea once, but the best idea for today is doing whatever it takes to create a stronger defense.

¹cisco.com/c/en/us/products/security/firewalls/what-is-a-next-generation-firewall.html#~choose-an-ngfw-firewall