A Firewall Is Critical for Business Security

Posted by Fred Bauerfeld on November 24, 2020
Business Continuity Plan, Cybersecurity

Having a reliable firewall is extremely important in today’s environment. In the first half of 2019, 59% of MSPs reported Ransomware attacks on the companies they managed, according to a recent Datto Survey. The average ransom is $5,700. That is up 37% from the year before. You can see how essential it is to protect your server.

You must keep your guard up to keep nefarious actors out of your network. Your guard is your firewall. It protects your servers and infrastructure. There are many on the market and most are pretty good. Some last for years.

Keep Your Firewall Up to Date 

Keeping up with the latest technology is the best way to know which firewall to choose for your company. When researching, it’s important to know what you are doing because it can get pretty technical. Read the reviews and shop according to your budget. You should consider not only the purchase price but also the yearly services and support costs. Some businesses like the DIY option, but others prefer consulting with an IT Service company.

Fight Viruses & Hacking Exploits Floating Around in the Wild 

Maintaining a service subscription for your firewall will keep it up to date, which keeps your business safe from viruses and hacking exploits floating around in the wild. When you keep your subscription current, it will update your firewall with the latest version of firmware. Firmware is the software that runs the components in the firewall device and the software that runs it.

Prevent Business Operations Disruptions 

Support for your firewall allow you to call the manufacturer and talk to them about setup and repairs. If it has issues and you don’t have anyone who can log in and repair it, your Internet will go down. That disrupts your business operations, whether you’re working in the office or from home. This is happening more often than it should these days.

When Your Firewall Gets Too Old 

Your firewall is a critical piece of equipment. Keeping its support up to date is very important. Firewall companies only offer support for a certain period of time. After that period ends, you need to renew it. When the device gets too old, the manufacturer will no longer sell support for it. Once it fails, you will need to purchase a new one.

Without A Firewall for 30 Minutes – 699 Attacks 

Shipping times for new firewalls vary. You might have to wait for up to 3 days. That is a long time to go unprotected. We once tested what would happen to an Exchange server on the internet. It was password protected but had no firewall guard. Within 30 minutes, it was attacked 699 times by someone who was trying to hack through the passwords.

Understanding the importance of a firewall is paramount for a small business. If managed right, it will keep your confidential data safe from harm. We’re here to help you with that. Please give us a call to assess the state of your firewall. (844) 400-0616

Learn more about the Cybersecurity we offer!

Datto’s Global State of the Channel Ransomware Report 

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