In the fast paced world of IT and cybersecurity, it’s easy to get swept up in the latest trends and lose sight of the fundamentals. But when it comes to protecting your business, the basics still matter, especially network firewalls. A properly installed and configured firewall remains a core part of any secure network setup. In fact, if you’re following frameworks like SMB1001:2025, it is one of the very first steps.
🔒What Is a Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) and Why Is It Important?
You may have heard the term Next Generation Firewall (NGFW), but what exactly does it mean, and why is it important to your business?
A traditional firewall operates on a set of predefined rules, acting as a gatekeeper for your network. Traffic is either blocked or allowed by examining IP addresses, ports and protocols, helping to protect against basic cyber threats and unauthorised access to your internal network. However, modern cyber threats have become much more sophisticated, finding ways to exploit user behaviour and bypass traditional filtering rules.
This is where NGFWs come into play. A traditional firewall is like a doorman – only checking the names on the list. An NGFW checks the name, verifies the ID, X-rays the bags and flags suspicious behaviour before anyone steps inside.
🛠️ Key Features of a NGFW
- Deep Packet Inspection – Rather than just examining headers, NGFWs examine the full content of each packet to ensure no hidden threats are contained within.
- Application-Level Inspection – NGFWs can analyse traffic at multiple layers of the OSI model – unlike traditional firewalls which only operate on layers 3 and 4 (network and transport). With real-time visibility into application-layer traffic, unwanted or risky applications can be allowed, denied or restricted based on policies created on the NGFW.
- Integrated Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) – Detects and eliminates known threats by comparing traffic patterns and signatures against constantly updated databases. If a match is found, the IPS can instantly drop the packets, quarantine the host and reset the connection – stopping the attack before any damage is done.
- Sandboxing – Suspicious files are isolated and executed in a safe environment. Behaviour is then monitored and shared with cloud databases so future encounters with the same malware are recognised and removed.
- User-Based Policies – Rules can be created to follow people, not just machines and IP addresses. Integration with directory services allows every session to be mapped to a user/group, and applications such as social media can be blocked for some and allowed for others.
🌐 The Modern Threat Landscape and Why You Should Consider a NGFW for Your Business
In Australia in 2024, the average financial loss from a cyber-attack for a small business was $49,600 – up 8 % from the previous year (cyber.gov.au – Annual Cyber Threat Report 2023-2024). The Australian Signals Directorate received over 87,400 reports from individuals and businesses throughout that same year. Cyber-attacks are not only becoming more prevalent, but they are also becoming increasingly sophisticated, making it more important than ever to invest in cybersecurity.
Other statistics to note:
- 80 % of reported breaches involving vulnerability exploitation were undetected by a traditional firewall. (Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report 2024)
- 50 % decreased likelihood of a data breach after three years when an NGFW is in place. (Palo Alto – Unlocking the Economic Benefit of NGFWs)
- 25 %–60 % reduction in security incidents requiring manual investigation. (Palo Alto – Unlocking the Economic Benefit of NGFWs)
- A new vulnerability is identified and published every 17 minutes. Half of all known vulnerabilities have been published in the last five years. (SentinelOne – Key Cyber Security Statistics for 2025)
🔒Ready to Lock Down Your Network?
Still relying on a basic firewall or crossing your fingers that “it won’t happen to us”? Let’s chat. We’ll show you how a Next Generation Firewall can cut risk, trim costs, and keep your business one step ahead of cyber-crooks.
Book a free security check-up today or give us a call. Our team is Newcastle-based and ready to safeguard your network.
Let’s have a chat. No jargon. No hard sell. Just clear advice on what’s best for your business.
📞 Call us today on [(02) 4083 3300]
📍 Locally based in Newcastle – proudly supporting businesses across the Hunter
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