The first firewall products introduced to the market were basic, relying on simple packet filtering for protection. While initially effective, these systems quickly became obsolete as application traffic grew, and hackers used these new avenues to obfuscate malware distribution. This gave rise to the second generation of firewall products that provided network administrators new monitoring tools and techniques to fight back against such attacks. Mostly, these systems relied on stateful-filters, allowing firewalls to supervise exchanges between nodes closely.
As hackers increasingly incorporate next-generation technologies like artificial intelligence, internet of things and cloud computing into their attacks, security-focused organizations are migrating to next-generation appliances to protect assets and customers. Third-generation firewall technology offers today’s administrators deeper visibility and broader control over the network systems they manage. Cisco’s ASA 5500-X family is the company’s answer to next-generation threats.
The Cisco ASA 5500-X with Firepower Services combines the features and capabilities of several key appliances into a single unit, simplifying network design while protecting against a wider spectrum of attacks than a single device typically affords. With Cisco’s ASA 5500-X series, the pathway to good security is clearly defined.
What separates Cisco’s next-generation firewalls (NGFW) solution from the competition is their multifunctionality. That is, Cisco’s engineers have brilliantly unified state-of-the-art firewall protection, intrusion prevention (IPS), deep packet inspection (DPI), filtering, malware monitoring, identity assurance and bandwidth/quality of service (QoS) management into a single, easily managed network appliance.
Protection Before, During and After an Attack
NGFWs such as the ASA 5500-X provide detection and mitigation solutions before, during and after attacks.
Before an attack: Your firewall can be configured to control how thousands of commercial and custom applications interact with your network. Admins can set rules and controls in line with the company’s security profile as well as use graphic tools to monitor network traffic in real time.
During an attack: Even the best-administered systems have weak spots. That’s why the ASA 5500-X offers intrusion prevention layers and reputation rules that can quickly detect and block malware that’s in the network. Cisco’s intrusion inspection system is designed to automatically scrutinize files and even sandbox those it deems suspicious.
After an attack: Cisco’s NGFW can use the information it collects to illustrate the infection and provide the detailed analysis needed to create custom rules that block similar attacks in the future.
Providing the tools required to thwart attacks across the full attack continuum is why Cisco’s ASA 5500-X family has become an industry-leading solution. The intelligent insights captured by the ASA 5500-X series furnish a new level of visibility into your network, applications, devices and the vulnerabilities that exist at each layer.
Monreal Won’t Let You Fall Behind the Curve
Pull your network into the future with the Cisco ASA 5500-X series Next-Generation Firewall. Monreal is a licensed provider of the ASA 5500-X and accompanying Cisco appliances that can be joined to create a modern, highly robust network ready for today’s ever-evolving threats.
We know that digital transformation can be difficult. At Monreal, we aim to make the journey less of a hassle by eliminating decision apprehension. This is accomplished by our free proof-of-value trial that allows companies to test-drive select network appliances before purchase. Start your trial today.
