Top 10 Firewall Hardware Devices for 2022 | Toolbox
A physical firewall device or firewall hardware is defined as an appliance that sits in-between the uplink and the client system and filters what traffic gets through based on pre-configured security policies, user profiles, and business rules. The uplink carries incoming traffic from public or private networks, whereas the client system is a server, an employee desktop, a WFH system, an IoT node, etc. This article explores the basics of firewall hardware and discusses the top 10 contenders in this space for 2022.
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What Is Firewall Hardware?
Firewall solutions are an integral component of enterprise security. A 2020 report by Palo Alto Networks found that firewalls, including hardware appliances, were the no.1 security measure enterprises adopt to protect their infrastructure. The report said that 96.6% of companies have a firewall in place, with 53.8% also deploying web application firewalls. In fact, more than 1 in 4 organizations rely solely on firewall hardware instead of software or cloud-based solutions.
So how does firewall hardware work?
How Firewall Hardware Works
Its primary purpose is to inspect incoming traffic and allow or block data packets according to pre-set configurations. All data moving across networks comprises data packets that contain header information, communicating the source, type, and destination of the packet. The firewall inspects this header information to let in only legitimate traffic.
Advanced firewall hardware solutions can go a step further by enforcing advanced security policies. These policies can help detect potential malware, zero-day threats, brute force attacks, unauthorized access, and a host of other security risks. You could even integrate the hardware with your security information and event management (SIEM) systems to get real-time alerts, detailed trend analysis, and actionable recommendations for enterprise security.
In other words, firewall hardware is as much a part of your cybersecurity stack as it is a part of your network management toolkit.
Here are five things to remember about firewall hardware devices:
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- The hardware appliance might be built into the router. In such scenarios, you have a multi-purpose router and firewall device.
- Technically, a portable computing system with firewall software installed on it is also considered firewall hardware.
- Hardware firewalls come with onboard memory to run security policies, execute business rules, and route traffic.
- A wide range of firewall hardware devices is available, from a small tabletop device to ruggedized hardware that sits in your server room.
- There are two types of firewalls – stateless and stateful – where the latter is more open to customization and complexity.
Typically, organizations will use firewall hardware devices in conjunction with firewall software to enable an end-to-end secured network landscape.
Learn more: What Is a Firewall? Definition, Key Components, and Best Practices
Firewall Hardware vs. Software
Firewall software is usually more common than hardware appliances simply because some form of basic firewall software comes bundled with end-user-facing computing systems. Organizations may choose to augment this with specialized firewall software that further analyzes incoming data traffic. Interestingly, firewall software is not a direct replacement for firewall hardware devices. The two are distinct solutions, with several differences:
| Firewall hardware | Firewall software | |
|---|---|---|
| What does it filter? | It filters traffic flowing from the uplink towards your enterprise endpoint systems but before reaching the client. | It filters traffic that has already moved from the uplink into the client but hasn’t yet been accessed by the user. |
| How does it get its computing resources? | It has memory and onboard storage to run configurations and temporarily store usage trends. | Its computing power is dependent entirely on the client in which it resides. |
| Is it easy to integrate? | Yes, you can integrate firewall hardware with other infrastructure components like SIEM or your security operations center (SOC). | Yes, firewall software platforms come with pre-built integrations with common apps. |
| What is the coverage like? | Depending on the device, you can protect any networked system from enterprise servers to home IoT devices. | It protects the client on which it is installed and indirectly protects other clients connected via the same network. |
| How much does it cost? | Firewall hardware can cost a few hundred dollars for personal use devices, going up to several thousand for enterprise-grade solutions. | Firewall software ranges from free and open-source tools to premium SaaS applications. |
| What is its USP? | It prevents malicious or unwanted traffic from entering your systems in the first place, stopping data flow right at the uplink.
This is critical for enterprise servers, IoT, and other systems where you cannot view internet traffic or its impacts immediately. |
It acts as a critical second line of defense within the system, preventing malicious traffic from wreaking too much havoc.
Its USP is its ability to use artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other sophisticated data analysis methods to uncover threat intelligence insights. |
As you can see, both firewall hardware and software play an important role in ensuring enterprise security. That’s why it is crucial that organizations augment their software-based protection mechanisms with hardware appliances in 2022 if they haven’t done so already.
Learn more: Top 10 Firewall Software for Desktops in 2021
Top 10 Firewall Hardware Devices in 2022
You can choose from several firewall appliances, depending on your needs. In a multi-billion dollar network security firewall market scheduled to reach $10.5 billion by 2025, you will find options for WFH network protection, smart device security, small business web security, enterprise threat prevention, and everything in between.
In this list of top ten firewall hardware devices, we have covered the best solutions for the most common use cases (arranged in alphabetical order).
Disclaimer: This listing is based on publicly available information and includes information from vendor websites that sell to mid-to-large enterprises. Readers are advised to conduct their own final research to choose the best fit for their unique organizational needs.
Top 10 Firewall Hardware Devices in 2022
1. Bitdefender BOX
Overview: A complete firewall hardware solution for your home office and personal devices, including complimentary software (Bitdefender Total Security), free installation, setup, and shipping.
Key Features: Bitdefender BOX offers the following cybersecurity capabilities:
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- Protection for all networked devices, even on endpoints that cannot run an antivirus
- Includes 1-year subscription of Bitdefender Total Security software solution
- Has the BOX Network Security Hub to monitor and manage your device ecosystem
- Safe browsing, content filtering, phishing/fraud prevention, and network intrusion alerts
- Intelligent profiles for secure device management within your home
- Vulnerability assessment and brute force protection
USP: Bitdefender BOX is an end-to-end solution that can plug into your existing ISP gateway/router or be used as a standalone firewall appliance. It has 1 GB of DDR3 memory onboard, along with 4 GB of internal storage.
Pricing: Bitdefender BOX is available at $149.99 for a 1-year subscription and $99 for renewal.
Editorial comments: Bitdefender BOX is a cybersecurity must-have for power users working from home, using a variety of connected devices, like smart conferencing consoles, laptops, desktops, mobile phones, wearables, and voice-controlled interfaces to do their jobs. BOX enables protection for all of these devices at a competitive rate.
2. Cisco Firepower
Overview: A threat-focused next-generation firewall (NGFW) to protect enterprise networks from sophisticated cyberattacks, Cisco’s Firepower series is an upgrade from the trusty ASA appliances and comes in various specifications to support data transfer between 890 Mbps and 190 Gbps.
Key Features: With Cisco Firepower, you could expect the following features:
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- Integration of advanced malware protection and Next-Generation Intrusion Prevention System (NGIPS), without degrading thoroughput
- Over 99% threat blocking effectiveness and URL filtering for 80+ categories
- 24/7 updates on security intelligence by Cisco Talos
- Security task automation from a single consolidated platform
- On-premise Management Center or Cloud-based Cisco Defense Orchestrator
- Supports over 4000 applications, geolocations, users, and websites
USP: Cisco Firepower fits seamlessly into digital environments with significant on-premise dependencies, and security updates on a daily basis from Cisco Talos. There are several variants of this firewall hardware device meant for rack-mount units, with sufficient computing power for server support.
Pricing: Cisco Firepower comes in 24 variants ranging from Firepower 1010 to Firepower 9300 – 3 x SM-56 — the pricing varies according to your reseller and existing Cisco subscriptions.
Editorial comments: Cisco Firepower is a squarely enterprise-focused offering, ideal for anyone who is already part of the Cisco ecosystem. Large enterprises considering a network security overhaul should consider Cisco Firepower as a compelling option.
3. CUJO AI Smart Internet Security Firewall
Overview: An AI-powered firewall appliance to protect your home office from network-based threats, this solution is powered by CUJO’s proprietary AI and ML innovations and experience in serving telecom carriers.
Key Features: CUJO’s most important functionalities are:
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- Comprehensive protection for your IoT devices
- Powered by Lithium-ion batteries for ultra-portability
- Malicious activity detection, online traffic scanning, and phishing prevention
- Safety controls for children, such as limiting online hours
- Plug-and-play installation with a handy desktop/mobile app for remote monitoring
- Supports up to 1GB internet speeds via most popular mesh routers
USP: CUJO AI Smart Internet Security Firewall is a compact, portable device that won’t add to your hardware clutter. But even in its small form factor, it packs a punch and offers protection from most common internet-related threats.
Pricing: CUJO is available at $90-$110 on Amazon.
Editorial comments: Users frequently switching between personal and professional use on the same device should consider CUJO, as it lets you set up different security profiles for different use cases. Keep in mind that it may not be compatible with Luma and Google Wi-Fi Mesh internet systems.
4. Fortinet FortiGate® 6000F Series
Overview: Fortinet’s FortiGate is a high-performance NGFW device for large enterprises and service providers with built-in SD-WAN capabilities, encrypted IPSEC tunnels, and various deployment options.
Key Features: FortiGate comes with the following core features:
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- Powered by next-gen synergistic processing unit (SPU) processors for maximum speed
- Ultra-low latency (as low as 2 microseconds)
- Intrusion prevention based on real-time anomaly checks
- Traffic prioritization and queuing for superior network performance
- Accelerated security inspections and encryption/decryption offloading
- FortiOS to consolidate and control the entire ecosystem
USP: This firewall hardware device’s USP is the Fortinet security fabric. This includes vital protection mechanisms such as AI-driven detection, zero-trust network access, and cloud security. Also, Fortinet’s unique SPU-based solution is difficult to find in this segment.
Pricing: FortiGate is a premium device suited to heavy enterprise use, but the final price will depend on your reseller.
Editorial comments: Fortinet is a globally recognized cybersecurity giant. So you are in good hands. The company’s security services (managed and professional support) makes FortiGate ideal for most enterprise scenarios.
5. Netgear ProSAFE
Overview: Netgear is a business-class firewall and VPN solution that secures network access between HQ locations, remote offices, branches, and WFH workers.
Key Features: Netgear ProSAFE has the following key functionalities:
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- Secure data transmission through public or private networks
- Flexible implementation, co-existing with your active ISP modems and Gigabit ports
- Customizable firewalls rules for tailored security
- URL keyword filtering, DDoS protection, and real-time security alerts
- Accelerated network processing for enterprise productivity
- Authentication to protect against unauthorized remote access
USP: Netgear ProSAFE is ideal for those who need a cost-optimized, robust solution with a long shelf life.
Pricing: Netgear products are priced between $40 to $300. The prices vary according to location and order size.
Editorial comments: Netgear ProSAFE is a 360-degree network security solution for mid-sized enterprises with distributed offices. Its reliable security features and ease of deployment (supporting any environment mix) are sure to improve your network experience.
6. Palo Alto Networks PA-7000 Series
Overview: This is an enterprise-grade firewall hardware device (similar to Fortinet FortiGate) that integrates with Microsoft Azure Directory, Citrix, and other popular IT infrastructure components.
Key Features: Some key capabilities of PA-7000 Series include:
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- An ML-powered NGFW that achieved a 100% effectiveness score in lab tests
- Coverage for unmanaged IoT devices and 5G native security
- Behavioral analysis to detect devices and recommend security policies
- Custom app usage reports to analyze SaaS traffic
- Dynamic user groups for time-bound security decision enforcement
- Coverage for WFH employees and virtualized machines
USP: The PA-7000 Series has two USPs: enterprise-grade IoT compatibility and malicious activity prevention, even when traffic is encrypted. Also, the device has WildFire®-powered malware prevention, using ML and cloud-based analytics for real-time threat intelligence.
Pricing: Palo Alto Networks operates through its global network of resellers, and the pricing varies between regions.
Editorial comments: If you’re looking for an enterprise-grade network security solution with IoT support, the PA-7000 Series makes perfect sense. And as an added advantage, it is compatible with Linux and terminal servers, which can be difficult to find.
7. Netgate pfSense Security Gateway Appliances
Overview: This firewall hardware device solution results from a partnership between pfSense (an open-source firewall software organization) and cybersecurity company, Netgate.
Key Features: It is characterized by the following capabilities:
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- A wide range of solutions, from small offices and remote workers to mid-sized/large businesses and branch offices
- Powered industry-leading processors (ARM Cortex, Intel Atom, or Intel Xeon)
- RAM ranging from 1GB to 16GB and 8 GB to 150 GB internal storage
- Commercial support available for enterprise deployments
- Security monitoring and reporting with real-time alerts
- Open-source firewall software (pfSense) for cost optimization
USP: NetGate pfSense devices are well-built, use case-specific, and sufficiently ruggedized for industrial usage. Intel processors and plenty of memory/storage are two major differentiators for this line of solutions.
Pricing: The SG-1100 Secure Gateway starts at $179.
Editorial comments: For organizations looking to gain from open-source offerings in the network firewall space, NetGate pfSense deserves a look. Offerings start from the basic SG-1100 for small branch offices.
8. SonicWall Network Security Firewalls
Overview: A range of firewall hardware devices for SMBs, mid-sized enterprises, and large organizations (including data center operators) and service providers.
Key Features: The key features of SonicWall Network Security Firewalls include:
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- The TZ Series NGFW for small businesses with SD-WAN, SSL/TLS decryption, and up to 5 Gbps throughput
- The NSa Series NGFW for mid-sized enterprise with Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection (RTDMI™) for blocking unknown malware
- The NSsp NGFW Series for large enterprises with advanced threat protection and unified security policies
- One million+ security sensors in 200+ regions to derive threat intelligence insights
- Management console can be hosted on-premise or on the cloud
USP: SonicWall’s biggest USP is the variety it provides. Each product family (TZ, NSa, and NSsp) offers 3 to 10 alternatives. This allows you to choose the perfect product mix for your network environment.
Pricing: SonicWall products are available across resellers at region-specific prices.
Editorial comments: SonicWall network security firewall devices are an excellent option for companies with multiple offices or sites of varying size and security needs. Its proprietary RTDMI technology blocks most known and unknown malware families while enabling high-speed performance.
9. Sophos XG Firewall
Overview: Sophos is a powerful firewall solution that secures data exchange between HQW locations and remote offices (similar to NetGear ProSAFE) with consolidated governance for public and private clouds.
Key Features: Sophos XG Firewall offers these essential features:
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- Unified threat management, including security reports and secure web app tracking
- Threat sandboxing powered by SophosLabs deep learning technology
- Spam filtering, phishing prevention, and email threat detection
- Built-in VPN and SD-WAN for zero-touch deployment
- In-depth web usage and activity analysis for trends mapping
- Synchronized Apps Control to discover shadow IT and high-risk applications
USP: This firewall hardware device is backed by security giant Sophos, known for its industry-leading security innovations. For example, the company’s proprietary Security Heartbeat™ feature tells you the health of your network and warning signs of any possible threat. Also, the device combines with Intercept X, Sophos’ network security software, to create an end-to-end protection mechanism.
Pricing: The pricing starts from $992. Your final pricing will depend on software subscriptions, additional licenses, existing infrastructure, and other variables.
Editorial comments: Sophos XG Firewall is a complete solution for enterprises with a sprawling application landscape. Those interested in it should ideally also consider Sophos’ additional solutions like the Sophos Connect VPN.
10. WatchGuard Firebox (T35 and T55)
Overview: A standalone firewall hardware device for small offices and sites, WatchGuard packs all the features you would expect in a unified threat management solution.
Key Features: WatchGuard Firebox boasts of the following:
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- A sleek, modern form factor distinct from any of its competitors
- Available as regular, wireless, or ruggedized solutions
- Built-in VPN antivirus, fast scanning, and complete scanning
- Up to 200 authenticated user limit
- Protection from DOS attacks, blended threats, and risky data packets
- Safe search and Google for Business security
USP: WatchGuard’s USP includes its sleek design and its variety of devices. Apart from the T-35 and T-55 for small offices, you have solutions for remote workers, high user-traffic industries (e.g., hotels), mid-sized locations, and rack-mounted appliances for enterprise use.
Pricing: WatchGuard follows a transparent pricing model, starting at $539 for the Firebox 8035 (software is priced additionally).
Editorial comments: WatchGuard Firebox is a competitor to the SonicWall family of devices only with a slightly different feature set and a wholly different design aesthetic. However, its standard support services are limited to the U.S., which could be an issue for multinationals.
To sum up, Bitdefender BOX, Cisco ASA, CUJO AI, Fortinet FortiGate, NetGear ProSAFE, Palo Alto PA-7000, Netgate pfSense Appliances, SonicWall, Sophos XG, and WatchGuard Firebox are the top ten firewall hardware devices in 2022. Whether you are an independent power user, a large organization, or a digital service provider with its own server infrastructure, firewall hardware could add significant value to your security posture.
Even as you adopt sophisticated, software-based protection measures on your client systems, make sure to block as much malicious traffic at the uplink stage, thereby dramatically reducing the chances of an attack.
Which hardware-based firewall solution do you recommend in 2022? Comment below or let us know on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. We would love to hear from you!
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