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Why is Cloud Security So Important?

Cloud security is becoming more of a risk to companies around the world. It’s believed that by last year, over half of the world’s companies’ budgets would have increase in this area due to the number of risks to keep in mind. However, so many people don’t realise that their current security setup has no use in the cloud. You’ll find that cybercrime is only continuing to increase year after year, which is why looking after your business in the cloud is so important. While the cloud offers many advantages to business owners, you need to ensure you are protecting yourself while working in the cloud.

Cloud Security Best Practices

By following these best practices, you can ensure you protect your business when working in the cloud. While incidents could happen at any time, the more you prepare for all eventualities, the less likely you’ll be to suffer from issues in the future.

Choose the Best Cloud Service Provider

If you aren’t already working in the cloud, we recommend taking the time to research the right cloud service provider for your needs. Opt for one which has some form of cloud security built into the solution. Read reviews online and see what other companies have to say about their services. While a company can share with you everything they have to offer, it’s always best to hear what other customers have to say first. Ask them to confirm what they offer and show certificates where applicable.

Train Your Team

When we install a secure cloud system within our business, so much of the time and effort goes into the installation itself. While a SonicWall firewall will offer your office many benefits, you still need to train your team on why you are using this in the first place. The more your team are aware of the risk of cybersecurity threats, the less likely they will be to click on a malicious link. They’ll also need to know the correct way to report any concerns they have. By offering an open chain of communication to your whole team, you can be sure that everyone is on the same page and isn’t afraid to bring up any concerns they have about your cloud security software.

Consider Your Password Policy

An important part of protecting any business and software system is the password that you are using. Your business needs to have a policy in place for secure cloud services to ensure passwords are changed frequently. Old and new employees need to be reminded of their privileges, and you should have the ability to take these away as needed if someone leaves your organisation. When you first welcome an employee to the company, ensure they are only given access to the tools they truly need to do their job. While it can be so easy just to give everyone access to anything in your business, this is usually a recipe for disaster for most business owners.

Opt to Use SonicWall Firewall Software

SonicWall firewalls are one of the world’s leading solutions for companies who are concerned about cloud security. Since the invention of the firewall, the team at SonicWall has invested their time and energy into creating resources that are suitable for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Your office is never going to be too small to benefit from working with our team and finding the right firewall for your needs. Many small business owners believe they don’t need to worry about cloud security, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Start protecting your business today by investing in the right solutions to protect your company from cybercriminals. You’ve invested so much time and money into your business already, so make sure you aren’t letting that go to waste.

Before delving into some more technical parts of cloud security, the biggest risk for many companies is a lack of knowledge and expertise in this area. If you don’t know where to start when it comes to cloud security, this is a big sign that you might need some assistance in this area. When security isn’t given the attention it needs, you’ll find that you might be opening your business up to risks in the future. A SonicWall firewall is a great place to start for anyone looking to improve security in their business. It’s a great solution for small and medium-sized businesses, which also need to ensure they are doing all they can to protect themselves in the cloud.

Data Security

Unfortunately, cloud computing still has some risks of traditional storage solutions. Virus attacks and website hacking occur in the cloud, which offers a big risk to companies storing a large amount of data in this way. Companies need to think about this very carefully before opting to use the cloud for the first time. When you transfer your data over, you then need to make sure you are using a cloud security system to protect it. We recommend working with our team to ensure you follow the proper procedures and don’t leave your system and data open to intruders. It’s critical that you keep your customers’ data safe in order to avoid violating GDPR and other regulations in this field. This should be the top priority for anyone using cloud security, yet it’s one of the toughest cloud security challenges.

The Additional Costs of Security Solutions

Cloud security doesn’t have to be costly, but this is one of the biggest misconceptions we see in cloud security articles. The great news is that SonicWall firewall security is designed for businesses of all shapes and sizes. It doesn’t have to cost you a fortune to protect your business, but it’s well worth investing in this. It’s never too late to start protecting yourself further and begin following cloud security best practices. While money is tight for many companies right now, you’ll find yourself in an even worse position if you were the victim of an attack. Keep this in mind before making any decisions or trying to save a tiny bit of money on your cloud security.

New Technology

Technology is developing at a rapid rate, but naturally, this brings with it some challenges. You’ll find that while cloud computing is at the cutting edge of technology, this means there are still some weaknesses in these systems. We recommend always protecting yourself from a security point of view, as virtual reality and AI are still so new to us all. You never know when something might go wrong when using the cloud or how hackers will continue to find their way into new systems in the coming years. Be wary about what technology you are adding to your organisation, and test things carefully before adopting new ways of working.

Educating Your Team

As the cloud is still so new to many people, employees find their team is often disinterested in learning about cloud security. They might not take this type of security as seriously as they would when compared to other forms of security in their workplace. It’s so important to take the time to educate your team about working in the cloud and the tools you’ve put in place to protect your team. When you first install a new SonicWall firewall, share with your team why you’ve done this and how it will protect their jobs. The more you can inform your team about the changes they are making and why you’ve done them, the more likely they’ll be to engage with cloud security best practices in the future.

New SonicWall Firewalls

Let’s start by taking a look at the three new SonicWall firewall options on the market. These are the SonicWall NSa 4700, NSa 6700 and NSsp 13700. They offer triple the protection your business might currently have and give businesses of any size an easy way to increase their security while still enjoying the high-performance levels that SonicWall firewalls are known for. Each of these options is supported with the current TLS 1.3 encryption standard, and they are powered by SonicOS 7.0.1. They offer users a modern experience with advanced security and improved management capabilities.

The great benefit of these new solutions is that they are supported by the Capture ATP with patented Real-Time Deep Memory Inspection. This has been highly rated in various industry tests, so you can be sure your business is fully protected from the ever-changing threats that are out there. Let’s take a look at which option would be best for your business depending on your company’s size and current needs.

SonicWall NSa 4700 and NSa 6700

Both of these solutions would be ideal for a mid-sized network. They offer some of the highest port densities when compared to other similar products, which still have a lower TCO. The NSa 4700 has 18 Gbps of throughput, whereas this increases to 36 Gbps with the NSa 4600. As far as the performance levels, the NSa 4700 is 17 times better than the last SonicWall generation, whereas the NSa 4600 is six times better. They are a great option for a business that is looking to expand and scale up in the next few years, as you can connect with millions of users with ease. The 6700 has the added benefit of both 40G and 25G connectivity, which offers multi-gigabit threat protection.

SonicWall NSsp 13700

For larger businesses, service providers, or government agencies, this is a great option to help support millions of connections. It’s a high-end firewall solution that will stop any bottlenecks from forming and keep up with your demands even as a large business. This is one of the top new firewalls for larger organisations and offers TLS/SSL performance that’s improved by seven times when compared to the previous model. It has high-speed GbE ports and is ideal for businesses looking to grow and connect to a wider audience in the near future.

SonicWall Capture Labs Portal

As well as offering new firewalls, SonicWall also has a few other updates to their solutions. The one we are most excited about sharing with you is the SonicWall Capture Labs Portal. It will offer you a free and centralised location that allows you to learn more about security news. The SonicWall threat search team is known for their cutting edge news and information, and you’ll be able to learn more about potential malicious activities that might impact your business in the coming years. We really encourage you to use the research tools that are included in this solution, as you’ll be able to search for threats and learn more about what could impact your business with a single interface. As with anything in life, the more information you equip yourself with, the more you’ll be able to protect yourself along with your SonicWall firewall.

SonicWall NSM 2.3

If you are looking for a way to simplify the management and deployment of distributed networks, this is an excellent option with improved capabilities. It’s a more intuitive, self-guided option that allows you to deploy and manage SD-WAN networks across all sites. You can do everything from one place, which we know many business owners will appreciate. The Template solution will help to save time as you won’t need to use manual configuration when you are adjusting each site’s requirements.

Perimeter Firewalls

A perimeter firewall works to defend your private network from other public networks, for example, the internet. This security application can be installed as either hardware or software and is the first way to stop intruders from getting into your business. A perimeter firewall will inspect any packets that come in and out of the network and then block or allow them based on the rules that are set.

These rules are better known as access control lists, which specify which network names, port numbers, and IP addresses are allowed. You can configure these to control both the inbound and outbound traffic. The main reason any company would decide to install a perimeter firewall is to protect the company from external attacks. They can also be used within larger companies to stop insider threats and create improved segmentation. Companies of all sizes and in various industries could benefit from this security solution, which is why it’s so important to understand perimeter networks.

What is a Network Perimeter?

The terms firewall and network perimeter can sometimes be used to describe the same thing, although they do really have different meanings. Your network perimeter is the edge of your internal network, and it is the boundary that controls what comes in and out of the network. On the other hand, your new SonicWall firewall will work to filter out the traffic that’s trying to cross this boundary. The network perimeter also includes other elements, such as the border routers. This is used to describe any type of router that is in two networks, one that’s internal and one public network. Intrusion detection systems and intrusion prevention systems are also critical for the network perimeter and will help to monitor and detect malicious activity. Finally, demilitarized zones sit between the internal and public networks. These all work together to keep your network secure at all times.

What are the Benefits of a Perimeter Firewall?

Before investing in a Sonic firewall, it’s important to understand the benefits that it can offer to your business. Any business today needs to have a Soho firewall or a similar solution in place to ensure you prevent the sophisticated attacks that are being seen more commonly. No company is too small to be concerned about their security, as you could quickly lose your business and data if you aren’t careful. One of the top benefits of a perimeter firewall is traffic monitoring. It will allow the firewall to monitor incoming and outgoing transfers of data, protecting your network from any malicious data entering.

A firewall will work to detect and prevent Trojans, which smuggle themselves into your network when they attach to files. These can quickly take over your network and make them more vulnerable to even greater attacks. No business can afford to be taken down by one of these attacks, which is why we recommend everyone uses a firewall to protect themselves. Finally, you’ll find that keyloggers can be stopped by firewalls, which are spyware that try to steal your personal information by recording keystrokes. This is an advanced solution that will put your business at risk if you aren’t careful about protecting yourself.

The great news is that there are many options on offer for businesses of all sizes when it comes to choosing a perimeter firewall. Our team will be happy to guide you through this process and ensure you are set up with a solution that’s affordable and effective for the type of business you run. We can work with you to understand your current concerns and ensure that the SonicWall firewall you choose is a suitable solution for the network you are operating currently.

What is a VPN?

Before we go any further, let’s clarify what we mean by a VPN. VPNs allow you to work from anywhere in the world securely, and it is an abbreviation for the virtual private networks. You’ll be able to securely connect to your office network, and you’ll feel like you are still working in your office even when you are in the comfort of your own home. The connection is encrypted, so you don’t have to worry about anyone else seeing what you are up to online. This allows you to work from anywhere in the world with this private pipeline looking after your work wherever you are based.

What Do You Need to Set Up an Office VPN?

Many of our clients wonder what they will need to set up a VPN at home and wonder if their home office setup is advanced enough to install a VPN or perimeter firewall. A home firewall with VPN can benefit anyone working from home, but you’ll need to find the right option to fit your needs. VPN-enabled routers need to offer you both wired and wireless connectivity, and they can support up to ten connections. A SonicWall firewall is the best option for any home office, and you’ll find that there’s a solution to fit everyone’s budget and requirements.

When you purchase a VPN-enabled router, it should come with the full instructions and a setup wizard to help you with the process. The software will be installed with the help of the wizard, and you’ll just need to follow the steps that appear on your screen. You don’t need to be particularly advanced at using technology to follow this process, and you’ll find that it will be configured for your computer and network without you having to do anything too difficult. Of course, your team will be more than happy to assist you with this task and guide you through the process if you are struggling during the installation.

In order to make your VPN as secure as possible, ensure you choose the most secure encryption option on your router. For most people, you’ll want to select WPA2 with AES. From there, make sure you change the router’s password. It will likely come with a very simple password that hackers can easily guess, so you’ll need to create something unique to you with numbers, letters, and characters. Create a strong password that can easily be remembered but that no one else will be able to get into.

Setting Up Users on a VPN

If you have someone else working with you at home, you might need to grant access to the VPN. While this isn’t such a big concern when working from home, if you are installing an office VPN, this is something you must do. You will use remote management for this task, which allows you to create accounts and then download and install the VPN client on the computer. You’ll repeat this step for everyone who needs to be installed on the system, but if you are the only one working at home or in your office, you can skip over this step. You’ll now be able to access your work from anywhere in the world, so the next time you have to travel for business, you won’t have to worry about falling behind.

With so many types of firewalls to choose from, we know the options can be overwhelming. SonicWall offers a wide variety of options to fit businesses of all sizes, and you’ll find there are some great solutions for home office VPNs. You’ll be able to continue working from home for the foreseeable future in a safe and secure manner while still being able to get as much work done as you would in the office. For many companies, VPNs have been a lifesaver in the past year, and they have helped companies to stay ahead of the competition during this challenging time.

Cyberattacks Impact Businesses of All Sizes

If you think cyberattacks are reserved just for large corporations and CEOs to deal with, you couldn’t be more wrong. Cyberattacks happen to companies around the world every minute, and once an attack on your business takes place, you’ll find that thousands of people may be impacted. Some of the most clever ransomware attacks shut down whole cities with just one attack, which costs businesses millions of dollars over a few days. Cyberattacks can impact businesses around the world, and you’ll find that regardless of where you are based, you can easily be attacked at any time. While you may think that these attacks will only impact the senior management in your business, they could also put your entry-level employees at risk. This is why education is so critical throughout your organisation so that everyone is aware of the potential signs of a cyberattack.

Technological Developments

While we’d like to hope that technological developments would help to reduce the number of cyberattacks and offer us more protection, sadly, this isn’t the case at all. The importance of cybersecurity is more prominent in our society than ever before, especially with the introduction of 5G networks across the country. This faster speed of broadband makes it easier for cybersecurity in 2021 to be compromised. Technological developments can also help to automate cyberattacks and could increase the number of connected devices over the next decade by billions.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing offers so many benefits to businesses, and it’s an excellent way to operate and store your files online. However, as public cloud and software as a service is being relied on more by companies, these are now becoming subject to different risks and new cyberattacks. Even government organisations will be relying on cloud storage more in 2021, meaning that some of the country’s most confidential information could easily be compromised during an attack.

Loss of Jobs and Income

One of the reasons that any business owner should start to care more about cyberattacks is the potential loss of jobs and income. After the recent pandemic, none of us can afford to become unemployed following a cyberattack, and your employees are probably already concerned about this happening anyway. When businesses lose thousands of dollars after an attack, sometimes their only option is to let their team members go to cut company costs. Even companies that would seem finally secure from the outside have lost millions to cyberattacks, which cause them to redefine their way of working completely. This is why installing a SonicWall firewall before it’s too late is something we recommend all business owners do immediately.

Personal Information Loss

Although we’ve mainly focused on the concerns surrounding cyberattacks on businesses, there’s also the risk of your personal data being lost online. This data is sometimes stolen and sold on for a huge amount of money, putting your personal safety at risk just because you didn’t consider a SonicWall support firewall for your home or small business. When companies have their accounts hacked, they can also lose the data of thousands of their customers, which can cause a massive spiral effect and more issues further down the line. Even devices like Ring, which is a camera security device many homeowners are using, have been hacked in the past. This can leave you feeling unsafe in your home, which is somewhere we all deserve to feel safe and secure.

Keeping Up to Date with Cybersecurity 2021

Now that you know the answer to the question of why cybersecurity is important, it’s vital that you continue to educate yourself about cybersecurity changes. As these attacks continue to develop, it’s likely regulations and laws will change, and as a business owner, you need to keep on top of these at all times. We also encourage you to put more time and resources into training your employees, as individuals lower down in your company are likely also to be the victims of these attacks.

Microsoft Azure Firewall

Let's start our Azure vs SonicWall firewall comparison by taking a deeper look into Azure Firewall. This solution is mainly a packet filter, which in this case is a stateful packet filter. They aren't visible in the data stream which is transported in your network and are generally a lot less effective than other solutions, such as a SonicWall firewall. They are often known to miss identifying and decoding applications, especially since everything online today relies on HTTP and HTTPS. Azure Firewall only added a few more functionalities, and it can only filter your web traffic using the URL name. It looks into the HTML header and then can also offer a reverse name lookup for encrypted traffic.

When comparing these two options, you'll find that Microsoft Azure can only do a small amount of what a SonicWall firewall can do. While TLS 1.3 is partially supported by Azure Firewall, there is no sandbox or analysis of zero-day in-memory threats. While you would normally be able to map any part of source IP and destination ports, Azure mainly supports the one-to-one mapping with private and public IPs. It's very limited from this point of view, which means it's not the best option for audits or troubleshooting. Azure Firewall is mainly good for debugging, and you'll need to manage this system with settings management. One major issue companies notice is that once you set things up, it's very challenging or impossible to change.

If you are used to the Azure user interface, you may be aware of the issues that it faces. However, if you are just changing over to this, you will likely become frustrated with the Azure Firewall. It lacks policy elements and makes it impossible to change the names of objects and complete other tasks that may be needed within your database.

SonicWall NSv Series Virtual Firewall

The SonicWall NSv firewall is a virtual firewall that offers all the benefits that you would expect from a traditional physical firewall. However, you also benefit from the virtual solution, which makes it easier for businesses to scale in the future. Most users immediately notice how easy it is to use while also offering cost-saving benefits in the long run. It's a next-generation firewall that offers application-layer filtering as well as socket filters. Unlike the Azure Firewall, which only filters some traffic, it will filter all the actual traffic flowing into the two ports. The wide range of security tools it has to offer will protect your business from potential attacks.

SonicWall knows how important cybersecurity is for businesses today and will be one of the best tools to help protect your company from potential attacks. NSv offers a wide range of security tools that will protect you from misuse attacks and side-channel attacks, as well as various other concerns businesses have. It's known for its resilience, availability, and excellent service delivery.

NSv is currently available for VMware ESXi but can also offer lab use for Azure, VMware Workstation, AWS, and other systems. You'll find that the cloud and the virtual versions offer the same benefits as the appliances, such as Gateway Anti-Virus, Deep Packet Inspection, and RTDMI in-memory scanners. It's already been rated as one of the most effective firewall solutions, meeting all the firewall standards that are expected by modern businesses. You'll find this to be a good solution for any type of business, and it will soon become an integral part of your cybersecurity plans.

As businesses continue to rely more on the internet and computers for their day-to-day work, something that companies should be thinking about purchasing is cyber insurance. While no two companies needs are exactly the same, it’s important to think about the risks your business is under every day. Even if you do opt to purchase cyber insurance, it’s important to note that you will still need to take basic measures to try and prevent a cyberattack. However, it does mean that if an attack occurs, you’ll have extra protection and a backup for your business.

What is Cyber Insurance?

We’re all familiar with more traditional insurance products, but cyber insurance is a reasonably new entry into the insurance market. While you likely already have a firewall in place for your systems, such as a SonicWall firewall, (Check our page for more information about firewall) cybersecurity insurance can protect your business even further. Cyber insurance offers businesses and individuals cover during the digital age and can protect you from cyber hacks and data breaches and the massive amount of money your business could lose.

While you will still need to protect your system with a SonicWall firewall, you’ll have an additional backup if you do lose business as a result of a cyber-attack. This cover will offer you the support you need to avoid bankruptcy and other financial losses following a cyberattack. With thousands of businesses being attacked in this way each month, it’s more important than ever to protect your business from this devastation in the future.

Common Attacks to Protect Your Business From

There are many different types of cyber-attack that you’ll want to try and protect your business from. Malware and ransomware are common issues within businesses today, and these are two of the top reasons to consider cyber insurance. Hacking is another concern for companies of all sizes, and this involves someone acquiring part or all of their computer system. As technology continues to progress, you’ll find there are more and more attacks on businesses, which is why you need to prepare in advance to protect yourself from any disruption to your company.

What Does Cyber Insurance Cover?

If you find that you become a victim of a cyber-attack, you’ll usually be covered for both first and third party financial costs. This could include replacing your data and electronic systems when they are corrupted, stolen, lost, or damaged. This type of insurance doesn’t just involve crimes but could also involve the physical loss of devices. Your business costs will be covered for the investigation of the crime and the recovery costs for the data. They will help restore your computer systems and replace any lost income if you have to shut your business down.

Any claims that are made against you by third parties will also be covered, including settlements and damages. While most businesses understand the risks these types of attacks could have to their systems, you may also have to legally defend yourself against a GDPR claim. This can set companies back thousands or millions of pounds, which is something no one can afford.

Who Should Consider Cyber Insurance?

Cyber security insurance isn’t just reserved for the world’s biggest companies, and small and medium-sized businesses will also benefit from this. SonicWall firewalls are the first step any business should take to protect their work, but from there, you’ll also want to consider your cyber insurance provider. If you are sending, storing, or using electronic data, you are a good candidate for cyber insurance. It’s often overlooked by small business owners, but it’s something we highly encourage anyone to look at alongside SonicWall firewall support.

How Much Will Cyber Insurance Cost?

As with any type of insurance policy, the cost of your cyber insurance will vary depending on the size of your company and your current needs. Your annual revenue, type of data, and network security levels will also be considered, and the provider will ask if you have a firewall in place already to protect your system. Naturally, a larger company will have much more data to protect and more employees using the system. With a higher number of records and people involved in these processes, the risks of an attack only continue to increase. Compare your cyber security insurance UK options with various providers to find the best price point for your needs.

When it comes to choosing a firewall, there are many features to take into account. A firewall offers businesses of all sizes today a wide variety of benefits, including protection from malware, viruses and hackers. However, the number of features you need is often an area of confusion for business owners. Different firewall options offer varying security levels, and your firewall choice will depend on the type of company you own and the size of your network. Here at sonicwall-sales.com, we are committed to helping you protect your network, and by considering the most important features listed below, you’ll be able to set yourself up to be fully protected moving forward.

The Top Firewall Features to Consider When Purchasing a New Firewall

These are just a few of the top features we recommend any business today considers when purchasing a new firewall. Each SonicWall firewall will offer slightly different benefits and features, so consider which are the most important for your business.

High Availability

For anyone that’s particularly concerned about losing their firewall, make sure it comes with built-in high availability. This offers you protection if your primary firewall shuts down, as the secondary firewall will immediately take over its job. This is something that’s more important for larger businesses, as opposed to small ones that can probably get away with not having a firewall for a short while. When companies are protecting the data of thousands of customers, this is something you cannot afford to skip over when choosing a network security firewall, as you risk exposing their data in an emergency.

Virtual Private Network

A VPN helps to create a safer infrastructure for your business, and we recommend that any firewall you purchase includes this as standard. VPNs will offer site-to-site encryption, and they make your IP address anonymous so no one can see where you are really connected from. This stops anyone from seeing what you are up to online or knowing what pages you are looking at.

Packet Filtering

Packet filtering uses a router to function as a firewall, which then examines data that passes through a network. While it does offer only limited protection, it’s something that smaller businesses may want to consider if they don’t use their network too much. It will offer some protection against attacks, but not those that are using application layer vulnerability.

A Proxy Server

A proxy server works by changing the IP address and acts as an in-between for the internet and your computer. It can handle thousands of connections at the same time and is a good option for anyone on a budget. A VPN is generally a more secure option, but this is an excellent solution for a smaller company. However, you could use a proxy server and VPN together for extra security, which is something many companies are choosing to do today.

What Size of Firewall Do You Need?

After considering the features you may need in your firewall, you’ll want to consider the size of the Sonic firewalls you need. This will depend on the current size of your organisation and whether you are planning to scale up in the future. These are the three main options when it comes to choosing a firewall:

Host-Based Firewall – This is a program that will only protect a single computer, and each system or computer in your office will need to have a separate host-based firewall. It’s an affordable and easy solution to set up for larger businesses, however, it will generally only offer you the bare minimum protection you may need.

Network Firewall – These will protect multiple computers at the same time, which makes it much harder for anything to get into your system. Network firewalls run on a separate system from your host, therefore it is easier for viruses to be detected before they make their way into your system.

Enterprise Firewall – If you have a very complex system that is used by thousands of employees, an enterprise firewall is the way to go. They should come with built-in high availability and a VPN. Of course, they are going to be the most expensive of the three options but are ideal for companies that are especially concerned about security.

As you can see, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to choosing a firewall for your business. The types of firewall listed above all offer different levels of protection, and popular models like the SonicWall Soho firewall will be suitable for small and medium-sized businesses. A good software firewall will offer your company the protection it needs from potential viruses and threats, which is something that any company working online today needs to be aware of. On top of installing a Soho firewall into your network, we encourage you to also look at offering your team more training about the risks they could come across, which will help to offer your system even more protection.

Read the next article: Choosing the Best Cyber Insurance for Your Business