Best Firewalls for SME or Small Business

​As small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) prioritize digital transformation, network security has become essential for safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring business continuity. Firewalls are a crucial first line of defense against cyber threats that protects valuable information and maintains a secure environment for daily operations. This transition to next-generation firewalls (NGFW) has introduced advanced features such as intrusion prevention and deep packet inspection, allowing businesses to combat sophisticated threats better. For small businesses and SMEs in particular, choosing the right firewall solution involves more considerations, as they need to balance advanced protection with budget-friendly options that don’t require complex setups.

​This guide provides an overview of firewalls, including their key types and main purposes, and introduces the 12 best solutions for small business and SME owners, along with reviews that help you make an informed decision.

What Is a Firewall? What Are Network Firewalls for Business?

​A firewall is a network security device that serves as a protective barrier between a private network and external sources, such as the Internet. It monitors and filters incoming and outgoing traffic based on preset rules, allowing only trusted data through while blocking harmful data from entering or leaving the network.

​For businesses, network firewalls are essential tools designed to protect the integrity of their computer networks. Enterprise-grade firewalls, in particular, are built to handle the complexity and scale of business networks, offering enhanced security features beyond those of personal firewalls. This added protection is critical for businesses to guard against data breaches and cyber threats, ensuring safe, continuous operations. Small businesses or SMEs, on the other hand, can utilize business-class firewalls, which are made to offer basic functionalities, such as VPN support and essential instruction detection, ideal for less complex network architecture.

What Are the Types of Firewalls for Businesses?

​Whether for a small business or an enterprise, firewalls come in various types that can accomodate specific industry needs and network configurations.

• ​Packet Filtering Firewalls:​One of the most fundamental types of network security, Packet Filtering Firewalls inspect data packets and filter traffic based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols. They are cost-effective and easy to implement but provide limited security, as they do not analyze the contents of each packet, leaving them potentially susceptible to advanced threats.
• ​Stateful Inspection Firewalls:​This type of firewall enhances security by tracking active connections and maintaining a table of ongoing sessions. This tracking allows them to make more informed filtering decisions, providing stronger protection than packet filtering alone. However, they can be more complex to set up and may require a larger investment.
• ​Proxy Firewalls:​Acting as intermediaries between users and external networks, proxy firewalls mask user identities and retrieve resources on their behalf. This added layer of security offers application-level content filtering but can sometimes introduce latency and often requires a more complex configuration, making it less common in smaller setups.
• Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW):​Next-generation firewalls (NGFW) combine traditional firewall functions with advanced features such as intrusion prevention and deep packet inspection, delivering extensive protection against contemporary threats. Although they provide strong security, their setup and maintenance often require skilled IT professionals, which can pose a challenge for smaller business organizations.
• Unified Threat Management (UTM) Firewalls:​For a small business looking to streamline network management, Unified Threat Management (UTM) firewalls are a perfect choice. They bring multiple security functions into a single device. While UTMs effectively handle various security layers, running multiple functions at once can result in performance issues during high-traffic periods.
• Network Address Translation (NAT) Firewalls:​To protect internal networks from external threats, NAT firewalls add a layer of security by hiding internal IP addresses behind a public address. Although they provide enhanced security through obscurity, NAT firewalls can make internal traffic monitoring and troubleshooting more challenging due to limited visibility.

Why Does a Small Business Need a Firewall?

​A small business should acquire a firewall for two primary reasons: to facilitate the necessary network protection to brace for cyberattacks and to enable secure remote connections.

Protecting the Network from the Impact of Cybercrime

​Cybercriminals increasingly target small businesses, as they often possess valuable assets like intellectual property and sensitive customer information. Startups, for example, may develop innovative technologies that attract interest from hostile actors, while healthcare providers store patient data vulnerable to fraud. In fact, many ransomware attacks in 2021 impacted organizations with fewer than 1,000 employees, as attackers perceive smaller businesses as easier targets compared to heavily fortified larger enterprises.

​Moreover, small businesses face supply chain attacks, where hackers access larger networks via less secure third-party vendors. Even general threats like phishing and malware can compromise their systems. Without a reliable firewall, these companies risk severe consequences such as data breaches, financial losses, and reputational harm, underscoring the critical need for strong cybersecurity defenses.

Verifying Remote Connections

​For any small business, firewalls are essential for authenticating remote connections and blocking unauthorized access to the network. By monitoring both inbound and outbound traffic, firewalls ensure that only authorized data passes through, a critical function for remote employees working from potentially unsecured locations. Firewalls also deter hackers from attempting to exploit weaknesses, safeguarding sensitive data, and maintaining operational stability.

The 12 Best Firewalls for Small Business

​Choosing a firewall to protect critical data and maintain secure operations is not easy. The following list covers and reviews the best business-class firewall options tailored to small- and medium-scale organizations, offering a balance of robust security features and scalability.

Sangfor Network Secure - Next Generation Firewall

​Recognized as the world’s first AI-powered NGFW, Sangfor Network Secure is an all-around and advanced firewall solution specifically designed to meet the cybersecurity needs of any modern business . It offers a suite of features, including advanced threat detection, built-in cloud deception, intrusion prevention, and a Web Application Firewall (WAF) for comprehensive protection.

Key Features

• Advanced Threat Detection: Identifies and neutralizes potential cyber threats in real time.
• Centralized Management: Includes an intuitive interface and SOC Lite for streamlined monitoring and response.
• Built-in Cloud Deception: Enhances security by simulating decoy systems to detect malicious activity.
• Web Application Firewall (WAF) : protects web applications from attacks, utilizing machine learning for real-time threat detection and comprehensive vulnerability analysis.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Cost-effective, tailored for small business budgets.
• Comprehensive security features with easy-to-use management tools.

Cons:

• Limited presence outside of APAC & EMEA.

FortiGate Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) by Fortinet

Serving as a powerful firewall solution crafted for small to medium-sized business organizations, Fortinet’s FortiGate NGFW incorporates features such as intrusion prevention, secure SD-WAN, and SSL inspection for comprehensive network defense.

Key Features

• Secure SD-WAN: Ensures secure connectivity across distributed networks.
• SSL Inspection: Provides comprehensive defense against encrypted threats.
• Intrusion Prevention System: Detects and blocks unauthorized access attempts.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• High performance and scalability for diverse deployment needs and business environments.
• User-friendly design simplifies management.
• Easy integration with Fortinet’s Security Fabric, offering a complete security ecosystem.

Cons:

• Entry-level models may lack some advanced features.

Check Point Quantum by Check Point

An award-winning solution that aims to deliver the strongest threat prevention, Check Point Quantum offers any small business a robust firewall with extensive security features, including on-demand hyperscale threat and intrusion prevention, anti-bot technology, and application control for proactive threat defense. 

Key Features

• Hyperscale Threat Prevention: Scales to adapt to increasing network traffic and evolving security demands.
• Application Control: Manages usage based on user identity and blocks malicious or unauthorized applications.
• Anti-Bot Technology: Detects and mitigates bot-driven attacks in real-time, preventing breaches.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Comprehensive security tools with minimal impact on network latency.
• Its unified management system simplifies policy enforcement across multiple sites.

Cons:

• Premium pricing may limit accessibility for smaller businesses.
• The complexity in configuration and management means that expertise is required for setup and maintenance.

Cisco Secure Firewall by CISCO

Coming in various series and models to suit different business needs and requirements, Cisco Secure Firewall provides a comprehensive security framework ideal for organizations aiming to strengthen their defenses. 

Key Features

• Threat Intelligence: Uses real-time data to counter emerging threats.
• Advanced Malware Detection: Identifies and mitigates sophisticated malware attacks.
• Seamless Cisco Integration: Works effortlessly with Cisco Umbrella Secure Internet Gateway (SIG) and Secure Email Threat Defense.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Cohesive cybersecurity framework with strong integration capabilities.
• User-friendly interface for easy setup and monitoring.

Cons:

• May require additional investment in complementary Cisco solutions.

PA-Series-by Palo Alto Networks

Featuring a large number of models, the PA-Series firewalls from Palo Alto Networks utilize a single-pass architecture and introduce deep learning and ML-powered tools to help your business defend against cyberattacks and zero-day threats. 

Key Features

• Deep Learning Tools: Detects and mitigate unknown threats proactively.
• Single-Pass Architecture: Processes all security functions in one single pass to reduce latency and optimize performance.
• Detailed Reporting: Provides actionable insights into network activities and security events.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• High-performance security with real-time threat intelligence.
• User-friendly interface that excels in identifying both known and emerging threats.

Cons:

• May require expert assistance for optimal deployment in complex networks.

Sophos Firewall by Sophos

Businesses can leverage the Sophos Fire Sophos Firewall for efficient, affordable protection against cyber threats. It uses synchronized security to provide real-time detection and response across connected devices and integrates smoothly with other Sophos tools to create a unified security posture.

Key Features

• Xstream Architecture: Features a deep packet inspection (DPI) engine for secure data flows.
• Synchronized Security: Offers real-time insights and automated responses across devices.
• Cloud Management Platform: Simplifies monitoring and control through a single interface.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Affordable and accessible for small businesses.
• Streamlined management with strong integration capabilities.

Cons:

• Limited advanced features compared to higher-tier solutions.
• Users may experience performance limitations under high traffic loads or in environments requiring extensive custom configurations.

SonicWall NSa Series by SonicWall

​SonicWall’s NSa Series network security solutions and firewall solutions are designed for small and medium enterprises with a business size of 250 employees or more . They offer advanced network security features such as Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection, secure remote access, and comprehensive reporting tools.

Key Features

• Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection: Identifies and blocks sophisticated threats in real time.
• Secure Remote Access: Enables safe access for remote workers and distributed teams.
• Comprehensive Reporting: Provides detailed insights to identify and address vulnerabilities.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• High throughput ensures minimal latency for large-scale deployments.
• Straightforward interface aids in simplified management for administrators.

Cons:

• Entry pricing may be steep for smaller organizations.

Firebox by WatchGuard

With tabletop and rackmount models available, WatchGuard’s Firebox is a highly versatile firewall that offers not only a powerful solution for network protection but also for business growth. 

Key Features

• Unified Threat Management (UTM): Combines multiple security features, such as firewall, VPN, antivirus, and advanced threat protection, into a single platform.
• Cloud Management: Enables centralized oversight and enhanced visibility across networks.
• VPN Capabilities: Provides secure connections for remote users and offices.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Its scalability and ease of use make it well-suited for organizations with limited IT resources .
• Its robust performance ensures effective threat detection and response .

Cons:

• Advanced features may require technical expertise for optimal use.
• Integration with other security solutions or cloud services can be complex.

Azure Firewall by Microsoft

For any business that is operating in a cloud-native environment, Azure Firewall can be the perfect security option. It offers features like Transport Layer Security (TLS) inspection, real-time threat detection, and seamless integration with other Azure services for comprehensive cloud security.

Key Features

• TLS Inspection: Secures data transmissions by inspecting encrypted traffic.
• Real-Time Threat Detection: Provides proactive alerts and response capabilities.
• Seamless Azure Integration: Enhances security for cloud-based workloads with minimal setup.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• The configuration via the Azure portal offers straightforward management.
• High availability ensures consistent protection for cloud environments.

Cons:

• Limited applicability for on-premises or hybrid environments.

Barracuda CloudGen Firewall by Barracuda

Barracuda’s CloudGen Firewall provides advanced threat prevention and secure SD-WAN capabilities tailored for small businesses and distributed networks. Its multi-layered approach ensures robust protection and flexibility for both cloud and on-premises deployments.

Key Features

• Advanced Threat Prevention: Safeguards against sophisticated cyber threats.
• Secure SD-WAN: Enhances connectivity across distributed networks.
• Detailed Reporting: Monitors network activity for improved visibility.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Versatile deployment options for both on-premises and in the cloud cater to various operational needs.
• Strong performance with multi-layered threat protection.

Cons:

• Additional costs for advanced features and support tiers.

Forcepoint Next-Gen Firewall by Forcepoint

Ideal for those seeking a data-centric security solution, Forcepoint’s Next-Gen Firewall aims to safeguard their networks against sophisticated threats. This solution strengthens overall network security while offering detailed reporting for enhanced oversight.

Key Features

• Behavior-Based Policy Enforcement: Tailors security rules to user activity patterns.
• Advanced Malware Filtering: Identifies and neutralizes advanced malware and threats with precision before they infiltrate the network.
• Comprehensive Reporting Tools: Provides actionable insights for better network management and solves security incidents.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Customizable to meet diverse business requirements.
• Strong focus on user behavior analytics for proactive protection.

Cons:

• Technical support can be lacking, which may lead to escalation.
• If the primary control interface link fails, it results in a potential loss of control.

Open source: pfSense

​Hailed as one of the best open-source firewall solutions, pfSense is a robust free firewall and router platform based on FreeBSD . It is known for its flexibility in network management and high-level security features.

Key Features

• Stateful Packet Filtering: Monitors and controls incoming and outgoing traffic.
• IPsec and OpenVPN Support: Enables secure remote access and encrypted connections.
• Customizable with Package Manager: Allows users to integrate additional features such as intrusion detection and traffic shaping.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Completely free to use with strong community support.
• Highly customizable to meet specific network requirements.

Cons:

• Limited official support may be a challenge for enterprises needing advanced configurations.