Comparison of Traditional and Next-Generation Firewalls

Next-Generation Firewall
Feature Traditional Firewall
(NGFW)

Layer 2-7 (deep packet

Layer 3 & 4 (IP addresses,
Inspection Level inspection, application
ports)
awareness)

Application Awareness No Yes

Intrusion prevention (IPS),

Packet filtering, stateful malware detection, URL
Security Features
inspection filtering, application control,
sandboxing

Integrated, constantly
Threat Intelligence Limited
updated

Detailed application usage,

Reporting Basic traffic logs
threat reports

Optimized for high

May impact network speed
Performance performance despite
due to complex rules
advanced features

Policy-based, intuitive
Management Rule-based configuration
management interface

Cost Lower Higher

Highly scalable for complex

Scalability Limited
networks

Decryption and inspection of

Encryption Support Limited to port filtering
encrypted traffic (SSL/TLS)
 Advanced VPN features and
VPN Integration Basic VPN support integration with other security
solutions

Additional Notes:

• Traditional firewalls are still valuable for basic network security in simpler environments.
• NGFWs offer comprehensive protection against modern threats but require more
resources and technical expertise to manage.
• The best choice depends on your specific needs and budget.