DO I NEED A FIREWALL IF I HAVE A SMALL BUSINESS?

Many small business owners do not even consider protecting their Computer equipment from intrusions, as they are not considered a target for cybercriminals. They think that this is a problem for big companies.

However, it is just the opposite, large companies have sophisticated protection systems and teams of computer security specialists, making them very difficult prey to tackle. Small and medium-sized companies, considering that their data is not interesting, do not take the necessary measures to protect themselves, either due to ignorance or lack of budget, they are very vulnerable and this makes them the main objective of hackers.

Small and medium-sized businesses spend money on alarms, surveillance cameras, and locks to keep out thieves, but none of these measures can stop a cybercriminal looking to steal information.

WHAT INTEREST CAN A HACKER HAVE IN MY COMPANY?:

It is easy for a hacker to send an email with a virus, install a Trojan horse or ransomware on computer equipment, to hijack files and even computers or mobile devices, in order to:

steal information to resell it, either yours or your clients

make bank transfers from the finance department on your behalf

impersonate the identity (phishing) to extort the owner, paralyzing in some cases the activity of the company

WHAT IS THE BEST FIREWALL FOR AN SME OR A MEDIUM-SIZED COMPANY?:

The Firewall is one of the most complete tools, and the first barrier, to protecting a company's equipment, but it can be difficult to know which one to choose among the wide range of options available on the market, we are going to compare the 5 best firewalls for small businesses and medium-sized companies:

FORTINET FIREWALLS: FORTIGATE

FortiGate is the flagship firewall range from the Fortinet company. It is software adaptable to any type of company that allows the creation of secure networks to guarantee comprehensive and fully integrated and automated protection against emerging threats.

It is the most complete firewall currently on the market since in a single solution it offers protection at any scale:

External security risk management: FortiGate offers complete visibility into risks and threats.

Internal security risk management: Allows you to inhibit and reduce attacks thanks to network-based segmentation.

Vulnerability management: it is capable of detecting vulnerabilities and thus preventing the entry of malware.

Offers hyper-scale security: allows you to secure the network without depriving it or impairing the user experience.

Secure cloud access: Traditional firewalls don't allow fast data transfer to the cloud, but FortiGate does. In addition, the data can be encrypted for greater security.

In addition, FortiGate not only acts as a firewall but also integrates:

application control

Intrusion prevention

anti-virus

URL filtering

Sandboxing (early launch anti malware protection)

SSL inspection

VPN

FortiGate is the best option for small companies, not only for its technical features but also for its attractive price.

WHAT FORTIGATE MODEL DO I NEED?

The Fortigate 40F has been specifically designed to protect small and medium-sized businesses from the most sophisticated cyber-attacks.

SONICWALL

SonicWall is an excellent option for companies with few workers, but with great demand for data. This firewall offers multiple quick configuration options and has an impressive deep inspection process.

It offers 5 types of entry levels so that any company can apply according to its needs at a technical level it has:

Advanced Threat Capture

Authentication methods

secure mobile access

Advanced Endpoint Protection

content filtering

anti-virus

VPN

PALO ALTO

The Palo Alto firewall is a simple but efficient firewall. Its easy installation is optimal for small companies that will have good security thanks to the fact that the firewall is capable of stopping attacks in progress, fully protecting the organization.

Palo Alto offers hardware, software, and cloud-based protection in a consistent, integrated, and effective way:

Offers phishing and malware prevention

Stops unknown threats as they reach your network

Reprogram your network with signature updates without delay for all other threats

Optimize security policies

Eliminate security gaps due to misconfigurations

MCAFEE

McAfee is a firewall that is usually used at home, but it can be very useful for companies with few workers. This firewall is very simple and easy to use. It acts as a defensive barrier between the Internet and computers and keeps track of everything that goes in and out.

McAfee Personal Firewall allows you to choose the security management mode to respond to threats that may be found, and also offers intelligent advice to facilitate the automation of the process. Some of its features are:

Intelligent access management for programs

computer startup protection

System Service Port Control

Hacker Watch information integration

Advanced Trojan detection

Event logging and intrusion prevention

JUNIPER

Juniper is another good option for small or micro businesses. This firewall offers full visibility, control, and prevention at the edge of the network. It is capable of detecting threats in real-time, and controlling traffic, and it is also very easy to configure.

Main features:

Advanced application control

Threat Prevention

Automated Risk Reduction

SSL inspection

The Juniper Firewall offers integrated threat protection with application awareness, user identity, and content inspection with high-performance data transfer and scalability that will ensure your business is protected.

Firewalls help organizations achieve digital transformation by protecting any application at any scale and automating workflows, but more importantly, they are the most comprehensive tool for protecting small business computers.

BENEFITS OF USING A FIREWALL IN A COMPANY

A firewall is a barrier or barrier that protects your phone, tablet, or PC from the data-based malware dangers currently known on the Internet. Normally when you have an online business, data is exchanged between your computer and the router, and firewalls monitor this data to verify if it is safe.

When doing business online, one of the worst things that can happen to your computer is someone trying to control your business remotely. This is one of the reasons why it is recommended to purchase and install a firewall, as it will disable remote access and thus prevent hackers from breaking into your network.

The firewall provides private access to your company's information, preventing the Internet connection from becoming an open door for hackers.

Monitor the traffic, control who enters your network, and determine if it is dangerous for the system, blocking it if it is.

Stops Keyloggers, a software that once installed on your computer, measures and controls your keystrokes

Control the URLs that your users access, to avoid access to malicious or inappropriate websites.