Many internet security tools exist to protect from web-based threats, including hybrid mesh firewalls, remote browser isolation, and more
Finding the best internet security for your enterprise is no small feat — every business is different and requires a custom-built solution to effectively safeguard its data. The ever-evolving nature of cyber threats, coupled with general human error, adds another level of complexity, making finding the perfect solution seem like an impossible task.
The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to internet security measures, as each organization operates in a unique environment with distinct requirements, business risks, and vulnerabilities. Thankfully, myriad security solutions exist — from robust firewalls to sophisticated threat detection systems — promising varying degrees of protection and resilience tailored to meet the specific challenges of any business.
Before we get too far into the latest security trends and technologies, let's start from the beginning. While firewalls have been a widely recognized security solution for decades, even they aren't immune to change. New iterations are being released to adapt to new ways of doing business and advanced web security threats. This prompts the question: what are the different types of firewalls?
What are the different types of firewalls?
Firewalls have long been the established method for ensuring the security of business data. However, as technology advances with more application-specific and cloud-based solutions, firewalls have evolved. It’s not just traditional firewalls anymore — contemporary security solutions such as next-gen firewalls (NGFW), Firewall as a Service (FWaaS), and hybrid mesh firewalls now exist to safeguard modern networking architectures.
But it’s important to remember that while a particular firewall solution could be effective for one enterprise, it may not suit another. Companies should perform a risk assessment to determine what’s best for them.
Next-gen firewall
A next-gen firewall has more advanced features than a traditional firewall by working at the application level, allowing for more customizability and precision. A NGFW uses application awareness and intrusion detection and prevention systems, meaning every packet passing through the firewall is monitored and either denied or given access based on set policies.
Firewall as a Service
FWaaS and NGFW offer the same level of protection but operate slightly differently. Rather than relying on physical firewall appliances or on-premises software, FWaaS delivers firewall set-up and management capabilities centrally, through the cloud. This means businesses can secure devices in any location without local software.
Hybrid mesh firewall
A hybrid mesh firewall provides a more cohesive approach to internet security, supporting multiple types of firewalls, including on-premises firewalls, firewalls deployed in virtual machines and containers, firewalls for clouds, and more. This type of solution gives enterprises the freedom to deploy different types and locations of firewalls and manage them all from a single platform.
How do secure web gateways fit into the internet security equation, and what are they used for?
Internet security threats are on the rise, driven by increasingly sophisticated hackers using advanced tactics. Given this growing concern, businesses should prioritize safeguarding both incoming and outgoing traffic.
While traditional firewalls and web application firewalls offer some level of protection, they primarily focus on guarding against inbound threats to applications and preventing subnet crossover. Secure web gateways (SWG) extend beyond this to monitor and filter outbound internet traffic, including HTTP and HTTPS.
Utilizing web security software like SWGs should be an enterprise’s first line of defense, as it allows organizations to identify and block potential threats in real-time. Using tactics such as link inspection, file sanitization, and remote browser isolation (RBI), a SWG ensures users can access the internet safely while mitigating risks such as malware, phishing attacks, and more.
What are some of the browser-based web security threats enterprises face?
Internet security goes beyond protecting just the application; protecting the user is equally as important. Many successful user-targeted attacks originate from the public internet — a large portion of which are web-based, according to Gartner.
While detection-based solutions, such as SWGs and firewalls, exist to safeguard applications from external threats, focusing solely on these measures may leave users vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks because they only recognize known malware. So, what happens when the unknown comes along?
This is where remote browser isolation comes into play, which acts as a proactive defense layer, isolating web browsing activities from the user's device. By executing web content in a secure, isolated environment, RBI prevents the infiltration of malicious content, whether known or unknown, to protect against zero-day exploits, phishing attacks, or malicious advertisements. This minimizes the risk of users unknowingly exposing their devices and sensitive information — something that happens more often than you might think. Some of the key benefits of RBI include:
Phishing prevention
RBI guarantees that deceptive websites or links that could trigger malware are isolated in a secure, remote environment, preventing direct interaction with the user's browser or device. It also gives enterprises nuanced control over site access, allowing tailored permissions for individuals or groups through the implementation of policy-based controls, including read-only for suspicious sites.
Sanitized downloads and data loss protection
With content disarm and reconstruct (CDR), enterprises can remove potentially harmful elements from files while keeping the essential content intact. The process involves disarming or neutralizing any embedded threats within files, such as viruses, malware, or other malicious code, and then reconstructing the clean file to maintain its original functionality.
Simplified security
RBI doesn’t require client installation or complex configurations to make things easier for IT teams. This allows users to browse the web on any browser they’d like without needing additional software or agents.
What is a digital air gap, and how does it improve internet security?
Isolation is a word you’ve likely heard a lot over the last few years, often associated with things like lockdowns and quarantine. But when it comes to networking, it takes on an entirely different meaning. Network isolation involves creating a digital air gap to improve internet security by logically separating data and systems so they operate in self-contained environments.
Making a digital air gap between a website and a device is like putting a protective shield around each online session. This shield ensures that when a virtual browser is used to interact with the website, the device is not directly connected to the website itself. Instead, each session is logically isolated within a cloud container. This way, if the website is compromised, the device stays protected because all the activity happens within this secure cloud environment, guaranteeing zero trust protection.
Browser isolation for zero trust internet access
Because the internet is so widely used, it's recommended that companies implement zero trust browser isolation to enable true zero trust protection across their network. This includes technologies that address web and email security, clientless application access, generative AI, and virtual meeting isolation to ensure a secure browsing experience.
Exploring zero trust for internet security
Regardless of what industry a business is in, zero trust implementation is always a good idea. But it’s important to know where to start.
While Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) may have once been a good option for securely connecting users, they have some drawbacks, especially as enterprises expand their networks using 5G and add users and resources beyond the typical network limits.
Modern networks require a much more robust solution to protect their data. With zero trust, nobody is automatically trusted — instead, everyone, including users, devices, and applications, must prove their trustworthiness before they can access the network. Zero trust improves network security by eliminating risky default access, reducing lateral movement, and connecting users to specific resources instead of broad network segments.
As time goes on, zero trust will continue to play a pivotal role in protecting data, with an estimated 60% of businesses embracing zero trust as a starting point for security by 2025, according to Gartner.
How a SASE architecture helps improve internet security and network performance
In the pursuit of both enhanced internet security and improved network performance, enterprises are increasingly drawn to streamlined solutions. Enter Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) — a strategy that seamlessly integrates networking (SD-WAN) and security (Security Service Edge, or SSE). SASE brings internet security tools together in one robust solution designed to enhance protection, simplify management, and facilitate scalability for modern enterprises.
What is SASE architecture?
One half of SASE includes SSE — a cloud-delivered security solution that includes technologies like SWG, RBI, and web application isolation. Although these technologies can be used by themselves, their benefits are amplified when combined with SD-WAN.
SD-WAN technology lets businesses safely use affordable direct internet connections, replacing slow and costly MPLS links. It also helps prioritize and optimize network traffic by identifying applications and steering traffic accordingly. Companies can segment the network based on priority, use case, and cloud-managed policies set by the IT team.
With security and networking together, a SASE architecture provides the comprehensive cybersecurity framework needed secure users, applications, branch offices, and IoT devices. To understand how it works, consider a company with disbursed remote workers. SASE allows them to apply zero trust to establish a secure connection between the remote worker's device and the company's network. This method ensures a protected tunnel for data transmission, preventing unauthorized access and safeguarding sensitive information.
Networking and security are changing fast, and companies should join the SASE trend sooner rather than later to ensure top-notch performance and security for their business.