Is Your Firewall Damaging Your Business?

Businesses are struggling to maintain a secure IT infrastructure. Threats to cybersecurity are continuously on the rise and becoming more complex. Cybercriminals are always coming up of new ways to take advantage of security holes.

The challenge of securing an IT network is more apparent for growing companies. Their increasing dependence on technology demands the need for more extensive infrastructure. Unfortunately for these businesses, it takes a more significant amount of effort and resources to secure their data.

A firewall can act as your first line of defense against cyber threats. It protects your assets from malicious intent, though it could also hurt your business without the proper configuration. In today’s article, we’ll teach you how a firewall can potentially damage your business. But first, let’s talk about what a firewall is and what it’s supposed to do.

Understanding How Your Firewall Works

Simply put, a firewall is a security feature that prevents unauthorized access to your network. At the same time, it allows authorized staff to access systems and devices within the same environment.

Think of it as a gatekeeper. A firewall monitors and controls the flow of information between your network and the internet, and across different components in your infrastructure. It prevents cyber threats such as malware from infiltrating your system or from spreading if they manage to get past your security.

Four Signs Your Firewall Is Hurting Your Business

When installing a firewall, you’re not just taking the first step towards cybersecurity. You’re essentially building the foundations of data protection. However, things can go wrong during the process and instead of doing good, a firewall can harm your business.

1. Improper setup

Improper setup can either make you more vulnerable to attacks, or it can restrict your staff’s access to much-needed data. If you expect to be adequately protected against cyber threats, a firewall has to have the right configuration.

This can be difficult for growing businesses given the complexity of their systems and an increasing number of devices. If your IT team is not up for the task, consider outsourcing to a third-party provider.

2. Overloading

Growing companies have to invest in more technologies if they want to compete with established businesses in their industry. However, your network can only handle so many devices and programs at any given time.

Besides limiting your network’s performance, a firewall won’t be able to keep up with the additional workload. Not unless you allow some data to get past the firewall unchecked – which shouldn’t be an option for obvious security reasons.

3. Poor visibility

Traffic flow is more difficult to monitor in a larger infrastructure, especially for a small in-house IT team. Due to poor visibility, you won’t be able to…

• Block malicious activities
• Identify key business operations and optimize your network towards them
• Find out which apps are reducing productivity so you can limit their use

Outsourcing your IT support can help you overcome these limitations and provide comprehensive visibility. In turn, this allows you to take advantage of your firewall’s features other than security.

4. Expensive costs

When a firewall is costing you more money than it should, and if your IT team is spending most of their time on maintenance just so they could keep it together, then it’s definitely hurting your business. Spending your resources on a firewall can hold you back and prevent you from investing in solutions for growing your business.