As UK businesses increasingly migrate their operations to the cloud, the importance of robust cybersecurity measures has never been greater. However, with rapid adoption comes heightened risks from cyber threats, ranging from data breaches to sophisticated ransomware attacks.
Half of UK businesses have experienced some form of cyber security breach or attack in the last 12 months. In this context, firewalls serve as a critical line of defence. However, traditional firewalls are no longer sufficient to combat modern, complex cyber threats.
Here, we explore strategies that help UK businesses strengthen firewall security in the cloud.
Utilise next-generation firewalls (NGFWs)
Traditional firewalls primarily filter traffic based on IP addresses, ports and protocols. However, Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) can distinguish between different types of applications, allowing businesses to monitor and control which apps are permitted on their network.
NGFWs come with Integrated Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS) capabilities, automatically blocking threats before they penetrate the network. They also leverage cloud-based threat intelligence to stay updated on the latest security threats, ensuring real-time protection.
Conduct regular firewall configuration audits
Firewalls improperly configured or based on outdated rules can leave businesses vulnerable to attacks. Regularly auditing firewalls helps identify outdated, redundant or overly permissive rules that could be exploited. Businesses should ensure that firewall configurations match the latest internal and regulatory security standards.
By following the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) guidance on configuration management, businesses can establish best practices for firewall auditing.
Implement zero trust network architecture
Under the zero trust principle, no user or device – inside or outside the network – is automatically trusted. Instead, every access request must be verified using proactive threat detection. Zero trust ensures only authorised users and devices can access specific resources.
Network segmentation is a key zero trust strategy. By dividing the network into smaller, isolated segments, businesses can limit the potential impact of a breach.
Set up intrusion detection systems (IDS) alongside firewalls
Firewalls alone, while critical, can’t guarantee full protection in cloud-based environments. By employing real-time detection, IDS identifies unusual traffic patterns that can indicate an attack. This enhanced monitoring provides security teams with greater visibility into network traffic. IDS can identify both known and emerging threats, adding a layer of detection beyond what firewalls offer.
Managed firewall services for consistent security
Outsourcing firewall management to expert services gives businesses access to skilled professionals who can handle all aspects of firewall security. These expert services continuously update and configure firewalls to the latest security standards. By outsourcing firewall management, businesses free up internal resources so they can focus on core company activities.
Managed services also offer 24/7 monitoring and rapid response times to any emerging threats.