If managing your business’ budget has taught you anything, it’s that technology lives fast and dies young. The average life expectancy of a firewall is just 3.5 years—often due to increased bandwidth usage and applications overload.
If it’s time to fire your firewall and upgrade to a newer model, here are three things to consider first.
- The size and structure of your business
You have your fire. You have your wall. That’s all you need, right? Not quite.
While all firewalls monitor network traffic, different models offer different capabilities that may or not serve your business, depending on its size and structure. For example, our Tabletop Firebox solution is ideal for small to midsize businesses looking to securely connect remote employees. For larger businesses, a wireless solution might be just what the doctor ordered.
Firewalls aren’t one-size-fits-all. It pays to think about which security. features you need and how much cloud hosting you use. And if you’re planning to hire more people in the next few years, you might also want to consider a more robust firewall to protect your business as it grows.
- VPN requirements
Much like your firewall protects the data on your computer, your virtual private network (VPN) protects it online. These birds of a feather work together, so changes to your firewall can impact the performance of your VPN.
There may be site-to-site or client-specific VPN requirements that stand in the way of your new firewall’s critical mission. It’s wise to gather the details of inside and outside DNS records and shared keys before you make the jump.
- The power of change
Change is good—especially when you’re making the switch to a more modern firewall that fits your work environment. Even better, it’s an opportunity to make other necessary improvements.
Schedule your firewall upgrade to coincide with the rearrangement of cables routes, moving of switches, readjustment of bandwidth handling, or reorganization of server cabinets—and enjoy a new level of security and efficiency.
Your firewall is a crucial component of your company’s cyber security, and by extension, its continued success. If you’re in the market for a new model, consider your unique needs, VPN requirements, and long-term business goals before upgrading.
At Guard Depot, we specialize in robust firewall solutions for businesses large and small. To find the solution that’s right for you, or to get a quote, contact us today.