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Efficiently improve network security and performance by cleaning up and optimizing your firewall rules Streamline operations and meet compliance requirements with ease Firewall rule cleanup & performance optimization tool Select a size Which network Can AlgoSec be used for continuous compliance monitoring? Yes, AlgoSec supports continuous compliance monitoring. As organizations adapt their security policies to meet emerging threats and address new vulnerabilities, they must constantly verify these changes against the compliance frameworks they subscribe to. AlgoSec can generate risk assessment reports and conduct internal audits on-demand, allowing compliance officers to monitor compliance performance in real-time. Security professionals can also use AlgoSec to preview and simulate proposed changes to the organization’s security policies. This gives compliance officers a valuable degree of lead-time before planned changes impact regulatory guidelines and allows for continuous real-time monitoring. Streamlining firewall policies: cleanup & optimization Dangers of outdated firewall rulesets How to audit your existing firewall policy How to properly perform a firewall cleanup Firewall optimization best practices Automate firewall configurations with AlgoSec Get the latest insights from the experts Use these six best practices to simplify compliance and risk mitigation with the AlgoSec Copy White paper Learn how AlgoSec can help you pass PCI-DSS Audits and ensure Copy Solution overview See how this customer improved compliance readiness and risk Copy Case study Schedule time with one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue

Learn about the Center for Internet Security (CIS) Controls and how they enhance your cybersecurity posture. Discover how AlgoSec helps achieve and maintain CIS compliance. What is CIS Compliance? (and How to Apply CIS Benchmarks) What are CIS benchmarks? CIS provides best practices to help companies like yours improve their cloud security posture. You’ll protect your systems against various threats by complying with its benchmark standards. This post will walk you through CIS benchmarks, their development, and the kinds of systems they apply to. We will also discuss the significance of CIS compliance and how Prevasio may help you achieve it. CIS stands for Center for Internet Security . It’s a nonprofit organization that aims to improve companies’ cybersecurity readiness and response. Founded in 2000, the CIS comprises cybersecurity experts from diverse backgrounds. They have the common goal of enhancing cybersecurity resilience and reducing security threats. CIS compliance means adhering to the Center for Internet Security (CIS) benchmarks. CIS benchmarks are best practices and guidelines to help you build a robust cloud security strategy. These CIS benchmarks give a detailed road map for protecting a business’s IT infrastructure. They also encompass various platforms, such as web servers or cloud bases. The CIS benchmarks are frequently called industry standards. They are normally in line with other regulatory organizations, such as ISO, NIST, and HIPAA. Many firms adhere to CIS benchmarks to ensure they follow industry standards. They also do this to show their dedication to cybersecurity to clients and stakeholders. The CIS benchmarks and CIS controls are always tested through on-premises analysis by leading security firms. This ensures that CIS releases standards that are effective at mitigating cyber risks. Schedule a Demo How are the CIS benchmarks developed? A community of cybersecurity professionals around the world cooperatively develops CIS benchmarks. They exchange their knowledge, viewpoints, and experiences on a platform provided by CIS. The end result is consensus-based best practices that will protect various IT systems. The CIS benchmark development process typically involves the following steps: 1. Identify the technology: The first step is to identify the system or technology that has to be protected. This encompasses a range of applications. It can be an operating system, database, web server, or cloud environment. 2. Define the scope: The following stage is to specify the benchmark’s parameters. It involves defining what must be implemented for the technology to be successfully protected. They may include precise setups, guidelines, and safeguards. 3. Develop recommendations: Next, a community of cybersecurity experts will identify ideas for safeguarding the technology. These ideas are usually based on current best practices, norms, and guidelines. They may include the minimum security requirements and measures to be taken. 4. Expert consensus review: Thereafter, a broader group of experts and stakeholders assess the ideas. They will offer comments and suggestions for improvement. This level aims to achieve consensus on the appropriate technical safeguards. 5. Pilot testing: The benchmark is then tested in a real-world setting. At this point, CIS aims to determine its efficacy and spot any problems that need fixing. 6.Publication and maintenance: The CIS will publish the benchmark once it has been improved and verified. The benchmark will constantly be evaluated and updated to keep it current and useful for safeguarding IT systems. Schedule a Demo What are the CIS benchmark levels? CIS benchmarks are divided into three levels based on the complexity of an IT system. It’s up to you to choose the level you need based on the complexity of your IT environment. Each level of the benchmarks offers better security recommendations than the previous level. The following are the distinct categories that benchmarks are divided into: Level 1 This is the most basic level of CIS standards. It requires organizations to set basic security measures to reduce cyber threats. Some CIS guidelines at this level include password rules, system hardening, and risk management . The level 1 CIS benchmarks are ideal for small businesses with basic IT systems. Level 2 This is the intermediate level of the CIS benchmarks. It is suitable for small to medium businesses that have complex IT systems. The Level 2 CIS standards offer greater security recommendations to your cloud platform. It has guidelines for network segmentation, authentication, user permissions, logging, and monitoring. At this level, you’ll know where to focus your remediation efforts if you spot a vulnerability in your system. Level 2 also covers data protection topics like disaster recovery plans and encryption. Level 3 Level 3 is the most advanced level of the CIS benchmarks. It offers the highest security recommendations compared to the other two. Level 3 also offers the Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) profiles for companies. STIG are configuration guidelines developed by the Defense Information Systems Agency. These security standards help you meet US government requirements. This level is ideal for large organizations with the most sensitive and vital data. These are companies that must protect their IT systems from complex security threats. It offers guidelines for real-time security analytics, safe cloud environment setups, and enhanced threat detection. Schedule a Demo What types of systems do CIS benchmarks apply to? The CIS benchmarks are applicable to many IT systems used in a cloud environment. The following are examples of systems that CIS benchmarks can apply to: Operating systems: CIS benchmarks offer standard secure configurations for common operating systems, including Amazon Linux, Windows Servers, macOS, and Unix. They address network security, system hardening, and managing users and accounts. Cloud infrastructure: CIS benchmarks can help protect various cloud infrastructures, including public, private, and multi-cloud. They recommend guidelines that safeguard cloud systems by various cloud service providers. For example, network security, access restrictions, and data protection. The benchmarks cover cloud systems such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, IBM, Oracle, and Google Cloud Platform. Server software: CIS benchmarks provide secure configuration baselines for various servers, including databases (SQL), DNS, Web, and authentication servers. The baselines cover system hardening, patch management, and access restrictions. Desktop software: Desktop apps such as music players, productivity programs, and web browsers can be weak points in your IT system. CIS benchmarks offer guidelines to help you protect your desktop software from vulnerabilities. They may include patch management, user and account management, and program setup. Mobile devices: The CIS benchmarks recommend safeguarding endpoints such as tablets and mobile devices. The standards include measures for data protection, account administration, and device configuration. Network devices: CIS benchmarks also involve network hardware, including switches, routers, and firewalls. Some standards for network devices include access restrictions, network segmentation, logging, and monitoring. Print devices: CIS benchmarks also cover print devices like printers and scanners. The CIS benchmark baselines include access restrictions, data protection, and firmware upgrades. Schedule a Demo Why is CIS compliance important? CIS compliance helps you maintain secure IT systems. It does this by helping you adhere to globally recognized cybersecurity standards. CIS benchmarks cover various IT systems and product categories, such as cloud infrastructures. So by ensuring CIS benchmark compliance, you reduce the risk of cyber threats to your IT systems. Achieving CIS compliance has several benefits: Your business will meet internationally accepted cybersecurity standards The CIS standards are developed through a consensus review process. This means they are founded on the most recent threat intelligence and best practices. So you can rely on the standards to build a solid foundation for securing your IT infrastructure. It can help you meet regulatory compliance requirements for other important cybersecurity frameworks CIS standards can help you prove that you comply with other industry regulations. This is especially true for companies that handle sensitive data or work in regulated sectors. CIS compliance is closely related to other regulatory compliances such as NIST, HIPAA, and PCI DSS. By implementing the CIS standards, you’ll conform to the applicable industry regulations. Achieving CIS continuous compliance can help you lower your exposure to cybersecurity risks In the process, safeguard your vital data and systems. This aids in preventing data breaches, malware infections, and other cyberattacks. Such incidents could seriously harm your company’s operations, image, and financial situation. A great example is the Scottish Oil giant, SSE. It had to pay €10M in penalties for failing to comply with a CIS standard in 2013. Abiding by the security measures set by CIS guidelines can help you achieve your goals faster as a business The guidelines cover the most important and frequently attacked areas of IT infrastructure. CIS compliance enhances your general security posture It also decreases the time and resources needed to maintain security. It does this by providing uniform security procedures across various platforms. Schedule a Demo How to achieve CIS compliance? Your organization can achieve CIS compliance by conforming to the guidelines of the CIS benchmarks and CIS controls. Each CIS benchmark usually includes a description of a recommended configuration. It also usually contains a justification for the implementation of the configuration. Finally, it offers step-by-step instructions on how to carry out the recommendation manually. While the standards may seem easy to implement manually, they may consume your time and increase the chances of human errors. That is why most security teams prefer using tools to automate achieving and maintaining CIS compliance. CIS-hardened images are great examples of CIS compliance automation tools. They are pre-configured images that contain all the necessary recommendations from CIS benchmarks. You can be assured of maintaining compliance by using these CIS-hardened images in your cloud environment. You can also use CSPM tools to automate achieving and maintaining CIS compliance. Cloud Security Posture Management tools automatically scan for vulnerabilities in your cloud. They then offer detailed instructions on how to fix those issues effectively. This way, your administrators don’t have to go through the pain of doing manual compliance checks. You save time and effort by working with a CSPM tool. Schedule a Demo Use Prevasio to monitor CIS compliance. Prevasio is a cloud-native application platform (CNAPP) that can help you achieve and maintain CIS compliance in various setups, including Azure, AWS, and GCP. A CNAPP is basically a CSPM tool on steroids. It combines the features of CSPM, CIEM, IAM, and CWPP tools into one solution. This means you’ll get clearer visibility of your cloud environment from one platform. Prevasio constantly assesses your system against the latest version of CIS benchmarks. It then generates reports showing areas that need adjustments to keep your cloud security cyber threat-proof. This saves you time as you won’t have to do the compliance checks manually. Prevasio also has a robust set of features to help you comply with standards from other regulatory bodies. So using this CSPM tool, you’ll automatically comply with HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. Prevasio offers strong vulnerability evaluation and management capabilities besides CIS compliance monitoring. It uses cutting-edge scanning algorithms to find known flaws, incorrect setups, and other security problems in IT settings. This can help you identify and fix vulnerabilities before fraudsters can exploit them. Schedule a Demo The bottom line on CIS compliance Achieving and maintaining CIS compliance is essential in today’s continually changing threat landscape . However, doing the compliance checks manually takes time. You may not also spot weaknesses in your cloud security in time. This means that you need to automate your CIS compliance. And what better solution than a cloud security posture management tool like Prevasio? Prevasio is the ideal option for observing compliance and preventing malware that attack surfaces in cloud assets. Prevasio offers a robust security platform to help you achieve CIS compliance and maintain a secure IT environment. This platform is agentless, meaning it doesn’t run on the cloud like most of its competitors. So you save a lot in costs every time Prevasio runs a scan. Prevaiso also conducts layer analysis. It helps you spot the exact line of code where the problem is rather than give a general area. In the process, saving you time spent identifying and solving critical threats. Schedule a Demo Select a size What are CIS benchmarks? How are the CIS benchmarks developed? What are the CIS benchmark levels? What types of systems do CIS benchmarks apply to? Why is CIS compliance important? How to achieve CIS compliance? Use Prevasio to monitor CIS compliance. The bottom line on CIS compliance Get the latest insights from the experts Cloud-Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) Read more Hybrid cloud management: All you need to know Learn more Prevasio CNAPP data-sheet Solution brochure Choose a better way to manage your network

Learn best practices for effective network firewall security management. Enhance your security posture with proper configuration, monitoring, and maintenance. Network firewall security management What are network firewalls? Network firewalls are the first round of defense against a wide range of external threats. Firewall policies filter incoming traffic to protect the network ecosystem from cyberattacks. Network traffic that doesn’t meet filter criteria gets blocked. Security teams continually optimize their organization’s firewall configuration to address new and emerging threats. Schedule a Demo Network firewall security challenges Network infrastructure is more complex than ever before. In the early days, your network firewall sat at the perimeter of your data center. Today, you may have a variety of firewalls operating on-premises, in public and private clouds, in a software-defined network, or a multi-cloud hybrid environment. Security leaders face four main challenges when implementing, maintaining and improving firewall performance: Complexity – The more individual firewall solutions your network relies on, the harder it is to analyze, configure, and scale firewall-related workflows. Visibility – The traffic flows over your network are complex. Lack of visibility over traffic flows makes managing firewall policies more difficult. Automation – Network firewalls have hundreds of security policies. Spread over multiple devices, manual management is difficult and time-consuming. Automation of network security management is the solution. Compliance – Proper configuration of your network security devices is a common regulatory requirement. Make sure you can demonstrate compliance. 1. Managing firewall configuration in a complex environment Since early networks were mostly on-premises, managing firewall configuration changes in real-time was simple. Once the cybersecurity team identified firewall changes they wanted to make, a single employee could upload those changes to the organization’s Cisco PIX device and call it a day. Today’s networks simply don’t work that way. They are designed to be scalable, supporting a wide range of endpoint devices and cloud-based applications with a much wider attack surface than ever before. Security teams must protect their networks against a more sophisticated set of attacks, including malware that leverages zero-day vulnerabilities and other unknown threats. At the same time, they must accommodate both users and attackers equipped with modern security tools like VPNs. The modern organization must deploy a wide range of firewalls, including hardware devices physically connected to local routers, software firewalls for hybrid cloud environments, and next-generation firewalls equipped with analyzers that can proactively detect unknown threats. Security leaders need to streamline visibility into firewall configuration, orchestration, and management through a single pane of glass. This ensures optimal firewall performance for both on-premises and cloud security solutions, while freeing team members to spend more time on higher impact strategic security goals. 2. Firewall deployments can compromise visibility into security processes Modern organizations with complex network configurations often don’t enjoy deep visibility into their security processes and event outcomes. Many third-party managed security vendors don’t offer in-depth data about their processes at all. Security leaders are often asked to simply trust that vendors provide enough value to justify premium pricing. But losing visibility into security processes makes it extremely challenging to improve those processes. It puts security leaders in the uncomfortable position of defending security outcomes they don’t have adequate data to explain. In the event of a negative outcome, it’s almost impossible to explain exactly what went wrong and why. If a particular firewall policy is ultimately responsible for that outcome, security leaders need to know. Effective firewall security management isn’t possible without deep visibility into firewall policies, and how those rules impact day-to-day business operations in real-time. Obtaining this kind of visibility in a complex network environment is not easy, but it’s vital to long-term success. 3. Manual configuration changes are costly and error-prone Increasing configuration errors are another knock-on consequence of the trend towards bigger and more complex networks. Where early network security professionals only had to update firewall rules for a handful of devices, now they must accommodate an entire stack of solutions made by different manufacturers, with complicated interdependencies between them. Most organizations rely on multiple providers for their full firewall stack. They may use Cisco hardware, Checkpoint next-generation firewalls, Tufin firewall management software, and Firemon asset management all at the same time. Managing and troubleshooting this kind of deployment without comprehensive firewall security management software is difficult and time-consuming. Security misconfigurations as a whole are responsible for more than one-third of all cyberattacks. This demonstrates the urgent need for security leaders to automate the process of configuring, updating, and validating firewall changes on complex networks. AlgoSec provides security leaders with a robust set of tools for automating network security policy updates and firewall changes without requiring organizations to dedicate additional employee-hours to time-consuming manual processes. 4. Don’t forget to document policy changes for compliance Security policy management is an important part of overall security compliance. Adhering to the latest security standards published by reputable organizations allows security leaders to meaningfully reduce cybersecurity risk. Documents like the NIST Cybersecurity Framework provide clear guidance into how organizations should address core functions in their security strategy, which includes deploying and updating firewalls. In particular, NIST Special Publication 800-41 describes the guidelines for firewall policies, requiring that they be based on comprehensive risk assessment for the organization in question. The guidelines also require that organizations with multiple firewalls sharing the same rules (or common subsets of rules) must have those rules synchronized across those firewalls. Importantly, all these changes must be documented. This requirement adds significant risk and complexity to network environments that rely on manual configuration processes. Even if you successfully implement changes the right way, reporting discrepancies can negatively impact your organization’s regulatory position. AlgoSec generates compliance reports for NIST SP 800-53 as a built-in feature, available right out of the box. Organizations that use AlgoSec to automate firewall security management and policy changes can ensure compliance with stringent security standards without having to commit valuable security resources to manually verifying reports. Schedule a Demo Firewall security management FAQs Understanding the network security devices in your network is crucial to maintaining your network’s security. What are some common network security devices? Network security devices include application and network firewalls, which are the most popular network security devices. However, your network may have other devices such as intrusion detection and protection systems, antivirus scanning devices, content filtering devices, as well as pen testing devices, and vulnerability assessment appliances. What is an application firewall? An application firewall controls access from an application or service, monitoring or blocking the system service calls that do not meet the firewall’s configured policy. The application firewall is typically built to control network traffic up to the application layer. What is a firewall device and how do firewalls work? A firewall is a network security device that monitors network traffic and decides whether to allow or deny traffic flows based on a defined set of security rules. Firewalls can be physical hardware devices, software, or both. What is network security management? Network security management lets network administrators manage their network, whether on-premises, in the cloud, or a hybrid network, consisting of physical and virtual single and multi-vendor firewalls. What are some challenges in network security management? Network administrators need to get clear and comprehensive visibility into network behavior, automate single and multi-vendor device configuration, enforce global network security policies, view network traffic, and generate audit-ready compliance reports across their entire network. Network administrators must continuously deploy security policies across the network. Yet, there may be thousands of firewall policies accumulated over the years. Frequently, they are cluttered, duplicated, outdated, or conflict with new rules. This can adversely affect the network’s security and performance. Schedule a Demo Additional firewall security features How AlgoSec Helps with Network Firewall Security: End-to-end network visibility Get visibility of the underlying security policies implemented on firewalls and other security devices across the network. Understand your network’s traffic flows. Gain insights into how they relate to critical business applications so you can associate your security policies to their business context. Find unused firewall rules Enabling unused rules to be included in a policy goes against best practices and may pose a risk to the organization. The AlgoSec platform makes it easy to find and identify unused rules within your firewall policy. Associate policy rules with business applications Firewall rules support applications or processes that require network connectivity to and from specific servers, users, and networks. The AlgoSec AppViz add-on automatically associates the relevant business application that each firewall rule supports, enabling you to review associated firewall rules quickly and easily. Manage multi-vendor devices across your entire hybrid network Each firewall vendor often has its own management console, but your network is made up of multiple devices from an assortment of vendors. Ensure continuous compliance Simplify and reduce audit preparation efforts and costs with out-of-the-box audit reports for major regulations including PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOX, NERC, and GDPR. Schedule a Demo Network firewall security tips Conduct a network security audit Periodically auditing your network security controls are critical. Network security audits help to identify weaknesses in your network security posture so you know where your security policies need to be adapted. Firewall audits also demonstrate that you have been doing your due diligence in reviewing security controls and policy controls. Consider micro-segmentation By building and implementing a micro-segmentation strategy , networks can be broken down into multiple segments and made safer against potential breaches by dangerous cybercriminals and hackers. Conduct periodic compliance checks Your network firewalls are a critical part of many regulatory requirements . Ensuring that your network firewalls comply with critical regulations is a core part of your network security posture. Periodically evaluate your firewall rules Following firewall rules best practices, you should periodically evaluate your firewall rules. Identify and consolidate duplicate rules, remove obsolete or unused firewall rules, and perform periodic firewall rule recertification . Schedule a Demo Select a size What are network firewalls? Network firewall security challenges Firewall security management FAQs Additional firewall security features Network firewall security tips Get the latest insights from the experts Firewall rule recertification - An application-centric approach Watch webinar Firewalls ablaze? Put out network security audit & compliance fires Watch webinar Firewall rule recertification Read document Choose a better way to manage your network

Zero trust vs micro segmentation Select a size Which network Can AlgoSec be used for continuous compliance monitoring? Yes, AlgoSec supports continuous compliance monitoring. As organizations adapt their security policies to meet emerging threats and address new vulnerabilities, they must constantly verify these changes against the compliance frameworks they subscribe to. AlgoSec can generate risk assessment reports and conduct internal audits on-demand, allowing compliance officers to monitor compliance performance in real-time. Security professionals can also use AlgoSec to preview and simulate proposed changes to the organization’s security policies. This gives compliance officers a valuable degree of lead-time before planned changes impact regulatory guidelines and allows for continuous real-time monitoring. Microsegmentation Zero Trust: How Microsegmentation Drives Zero Trust Success Microsegmentation zero trust is the practice of enforcing zero trust principles through fine‑grained, application‑aware segmentation at the workload and service level. Companies today are turning to microsegmentation, a granular form of network segmentation, to contain attacks quickly, prove least‑privilege access, and simplify compliance across hybrid environments. Despite still having to spend an average of $4.4 million per breach, according to IBM's Cost of a Data Breach Report 2025 , this is 9% lower than 2024. That drop ties directly to faster identification and containment—outcomes microsegmentation accelerates by limiting lateral movement and shrinking the blast radius from the first indicator of compromise. In yet another study, Verizon’s 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report , more than 12,000 confirmed breaches demonstrated how multi-stage intrusions use lateral movement, which microsegmentation technology directly addresses. Meanwhile, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) requires network segmentation for system scope reduction, which leads to decreased audit work and better system isolation. Taken together, these findings underscore a simple point: Organizations need application‑aware controls—specifically microsegmentation—to stop attackers from moving between systems and to operationalize zero trust. This article discusses the zero trust vs. micro‑segmentation debate, explains how zero trust and microsegmentation in fact work together, and provides a path to design, enforce, and operate this approach. What Is Microsegmentation? Microsegmentation divides networks into small, secure domains that match workload requirements and user/service identities with explicit allow‑rules to stop lateral movement. Network security today benefits from application-based boundaries, i.e., policies applied where applications actually communicate—not just subnets and VLANS. In practice, that means protecting individual workloads and the communication between them across data centers, public clouds, containers, and endpoints—rather than vaguely “protecting components” or “locations.” What Is the Difference Between Traditional (Macro) and Micro-Segmentation This comparison comes down to a difference in approach: Macro-segmentation uses broad VLANs and subnets or DMZs to divide network tiers; while this provides limited east-west control, it is simpler to design. Micro-segmentation uses SDN and host agents, as well as cloud security groups; application-specific policies are enforced at the workload/service boundary, which is why they are the engine of microsegmentation zero trust. What Role Do Firewalls and Network Segmentation Layers Play in Microsegmentation? Your existing perimeter and internal firewalls provide north‑south control, compliance zones, and enforcement points that microsegmentation can orchestrate. In other words, microsegmentation complements firewalls and network segmentation layers—it does not replace them. Extending the point above: Microsegmentation orchestrates those firewall and segmentation layers to deploy least‑privilege across hybrid systems—specifically: Cloud security groups NACLs SDN fabrics Kubernetes policies Host-based controls Since these layers are complementary, they collectively shrink the blast radius. What Is Zero Trust? Zero trust is a security concept, not a product or service. The system uses identity-based dynamic authorization, which takes into account device health status and environmental context—instead of traditional static location-based access methods. Verification is continuous because environments and risk conditions evolve. Zero trust verifies every access decision—no implicit trust—and enforces least privilege Zero Trust vs. Micro‑Segmentation: Complementary Forces While zero trust operates as an operational framework, microsegmentation functions as an implementation methodology. While zero trust explains what needs protection and which aspects require protection, microsegmentation provides the how. The table below breaks down the two concepts across key parameters. Aspect Zero Trust (Strategy) Microsegmentation (Mechanism) Focus Identity, posture, continuous verification Allowed app/workload flows Scope Enterprise‑wide architecture App tiers, services, identities Enforcement Policies derived from context and risk SDN, host agents, security groups, firewalls Outcome Minimized implicit trust; provable least‑privilege Contained blast radius; fewer lateral‑movement paths What Is Microsegmentation Zero Trust? The combination of zero trust and microsegmentation forms microsegmentation zero trust—a strategy connected to enforcement. The three primary goals of this approach are: Risk reduction Lateral movement prevention Least privilege verification Microsegmentation zero trust applies zero trust principles—continuous verification and least privilege—by defining and enforcing explicit, application‑aware allow‑rules between identities, services, and workloads. Why Does Microsegmentation Zero Trust Matter? It matters because it measurably reduces lateral movement paths and speeds incident containment. Authorized paths are explicitly permitted communication flows (service A to service B on port X from an approved identity) that have been validated as necessary for the application to function. Pre‑defining and testing these authorized paths speeds deployment because changes ship with pre-validated, least‑privilege policies—reducing last‑minute firewall rework, minimizing approvals, and preventing rollback from unexpected blocks. Implementing Microsegmentation to Achieve Zero Trust Microsegmentation is a continuous process, consisting of multiple stages to successfully achieve zero trust. Asset & Dependency Discovery Start by analyzing the network traffic behavior of applications and workloads in traditional on-premises setups, public clouds, and container environments. This application-first view serves as the base for zero trust segmentation, which stops security gaps from occurring. Policy Creation Create allow‑lists for individual app components and identity groups based on observed application traffic flows (sources/destinations, ports, processes) and documented business requirements, then validate with “what‑if” simulations before production. Enforcement Implement the approved policy through current controls—cloud security groups, firewalls, SDN fabrics, host controls, and Kubernetes—to achieve uniform protection across hybrid and multi-cloud systems. Continuous Monitoring & Adaptive Policy Continuously monitor for drift, prune unused rules, and adjust policies using detection data—without re‑introducing broad implicit trust or “allow any” access. Challenges & Pitfalls to Avoid Security organizations that operate effectively still encounter various obstacles when implementing microsegmentation: Lack of visibility in application maps: When third-party or SaaS endpoints and ephemeral services (containers, serverless functions) are not properly documented, visibility suffers. The fix? Run continuous dependency discovery operations while keeping tags and labels up to date. Focusing solely on network-based controls: Ignoring workload and identity context can weaken your security measures. The fix? Use service accounts, workload identities, namespaces, and labels as the basis for policy connections whenever possible. Relying on a single technology: Depending only on firewalls or security groups can create gaps in your security posture. The fix? Implement security orchestration using a combination of firewalls, SDN security groups, and Kubernetes network policies. Manual exception handling: Human intervention creates delays, slowing down release cycles. The fix? Orchestrate a combination of controls—next‑gen firewalls, SDN fabrics, cloud security groups, and Kubernetes network policy—so each layer covers the others. AlgoSec's Microsegmentation‑Driven Zero Trust Platform In today's fast-paced digital landscape, the combination of speed and safety is not just important—it's imperative. Zero Trust security delivered by AlgoSec’s unified platform enables companies to successfully implement microsegmentation across data centers, clouds, and Kubernetes. The platform begins with an application-first method, allowing users to clearly see their workloads and intricate patterns. AlgoSec provides immediate connectivity between different environments—on-premises systems, public clouds, and containers—to detect lateral movement paths and compliance issues fast. Beyond basic observability, AlgoSec maps security policy to business applications and services so that teams can simulate proposed changes, quantify risk in business terms, and validate least‑privilege before anything reaches production.. This proactive method validates the least privilege principle, protecting against security breaches and outages. AlgoSec integrates with next-generation firewalls, SDN fabrics and cloud security groups, and Kubernetes to enforce the same intent everywhere, orchestrating changes so rules remain consistent across hybrid and multi‑cloud environments. To see microsegmentation zero trust in action with AlgoSec, schedule a demo today. Get the latest insights from the experts Schedule time with one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue

Automate and secure network policy changes with AlgoSec FireFlow. Streamline workflows, ensure compliance, and reduce risks in your security environment. AlgoSec FireFlow – Automate and secure policy changes ---- ------- Schedule a Demo Select a size ----- Get the latest insights from the experts Choose a better way to manage your network

Explore top-rated FireMon alternatives for firewall security management. Find the best solutions for your needs based on our ranked and rated comparison. Top 11 FireMon competitors & alternatives (ranked & rated) FireMon: Is it the right choice for your business? The cyber security world has evolved in recent years in tandem with the constantly changing threat environment, and many service providers with sensitive data to protect are leveraging elaborate risk management deterrents and avant garde zero trust systems. Cybersecurity platforms with a high level of network visibility are currently being deployed by many of these companies to reduce attack surfaces. One of those solutions is FireMon. The enterprise security manager provides a series of comprehensive SaaS security management options that include: The Firemon Security Manager – This is a security policy management tool that offers real-time surveillance with an aim to manage and implement policies, and reduce firewall and cloud security policy-related risks. Firemon DisruptOps – This is a distributed cloud security operations solution that’s designed to monitor and secure data that’s kept in cloud infrastructure. Firemon Asset Manager (formerly ‘Lumeta’) – This is a real-time network visibility and asset management solution that scans hybrid cloud environments to identify threats. The product is able to secure a wide range of resources, including operational technology (OT) and internet of things (IoT) devices. Collectively, they form a formidable defense system against cybersecurity attacks. That said, there are numerous FireMon alternatives in the market today. The following is a breakdown of 10 FireMon competitors, along with their pros and cons. Schedule a Demo Who are the top competitors and alternatives to FireMon? AlgoSec Tufin Skybox Palo Alto Networks Redseal Cisco ManageEngine FortiGate AlienVault SolarWinds Avast Schedule a Demo 1. AlgoSec Algosec is a turnkey security software that is designed to automate application connectivity and endpoint security policy implementation across entire networks. The cybersecurity platform aims to uphold network security using the following products within its suite: Key Features: Firewall Analyzer: This module detects and deters intrusion attacks by mapping out business applications and security policy authentication across networks. Algosec Fireflow: The solution allows businesses to improve their security networks by automating the creation and enforcement of security policies, as well as providing visibility into network traffic and identifying potential security risks. FireFlow supports a wide range of firewalls and security devices from numerous vendors, including Cisco, Check Point, and Fortinet. AlgoSec Cloud: This is a security management solution that provides automated provisioning, configuration, and policy management for cloud infrastructure. The solution allows businesses to protect their cloud-based applications and data by automating the creation and enforcement of security policies. Pros Installation: Initial setup and configuration of the platform is fairly easy as well as integration with other compatible products. Ease of use: The dashboard is user-friendly and intuitive, and the graphical user interface is compatible with most web browsers. Robustness: The solution offers multiple features including firewall policy auditing and reporting in compliance with information security management standards such as ISO27001. Simulated queries: The software provides various configuration options to define service groups utilizing similar services and allows network administrators to run traffic simulation queries. Cons Customization: The lack of customization options for dashboards could be problematic for some users. The software also lacks nested groups to allow the inheritance of access permissions from one main group to its sub-groups. Late hotfixes: Users have reported slow rollout times for patches and hotfixes, and in some cases, the hotfixes contain bugs, which can slow down performance. Schedule a Demo 2. Tufin orchestration suite Tufin Orchestration Suite is a network security management solution that automates the management of compliance processes for multi-vendor and multi-device networks. Key Features: Tufin offers a variety of tools for managing firewall, router, VPN policies, and performing compliance checks and reporting through API. Pros Pricing: For larger organizations, the pricing is reasonable. Robustness: Tufin offers a very comprehensive range of security capabilities and works well with many vendors and third-party cybersecurity applications. Scalability: The product is easy to scale and can be adjusted according to customer needs. Cons Ease of use: The product is not as user-friendly as other products in the market. The GUI is a bit clunky and not very intuitive. Speed: Performance can be affected when many processes are running simultaneously. Customization: Customization options are a bit limited for customers that need more elaborate network management features. Schedule a Demo 3. Skybox security suite Skybox Security Suite is a cybersecurity management platform that contains a suite of solutions for vulnerability and threat detection. It also provides security policy management options. The suite contains two main solutions: Network security policy management Vulnerability and threat management Key Features: Firewall Assurance: This security management solution provides automated provisioning, configuration, and policy management for firewalls and other network security devices. The solution allows businesses to buttress their network security by automating the enforcement of security policies. Network Assurance: This module is designed to achieve complete network visibility and supports a wide range of network security devices. They include routers, switches, and load balancers. Change Manager: The product was designed to automate change management workflows for comprehensive risk assessments. Vulnerability Control: This product is used to detect vulnerabilities and prioritize them based on exposure-based risk scores while providing prescriptive remediation options to the end user. Threat Intelligence Service: The cybersecurity management system detects vulnerabilities and protects a network against potential exploits. Pros Integrated threat intelligence: The solution integrates with threat intelligence feeds to detect and block known and unknown threats in real-time. Scalability: The solution can be used to manage a small number of devices or a large number of devices, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. Integration: The solution can integrate with other security tools, such as intrusion detection systems and vulnerability management platforms, to provide a comprehensive view of security across the network. Automated remediation: Skybox Security Suite allows businesses to fix security vulnerabilities and misconfigurations automatically. Cons Complexity: The solution may be complex to implement and use, especially for users who are not well-versed in network security. High cost: The solution may be expensive for some businesses, especially for those with limited IT budgets. Dependency on accurate inventory: The solution relies on an accurate inventory of devices and networks in order to work effectively. As such, inaccurate data feeds can lead to a less effective performance. Limited Customization: It provides few customization options, making it difficult for users to modify the software to their specific needs. Schedule a Demo 4. Palo Alto networks panorama Palo Alto Networks Panorama is a network security management tool that provides centralized control of Palo Alto Networks next-generation firewalls within a network infrastructure. It aims to simplify the configuration, deployment and management of security policies, using a model that provides both oversight and control. Pros Ease of use: The Palo Alto Networks Panorama GUI is easy to use due to its built-in help features. It shares the same user interface as Palo Alto Next-Generation Firewalls. Reliability: The product is stable and has few performance issues, which makes it highly reliable. Ease of upgrade: Compared to other vendors, the upgrade of the Panorama tool is smooth because it is automated. Cons Vendor Specific: The product only supports Palo Alto Networks firewalls which can be limiting if an organization is relying on firewalls from other vendors. Pricing: Palo Alto Networks Panorama is expensive and the product would be available to more organizations if it were cheaper. Schedule a Demo 5. Redseal Redseal offers a cloud security product that supports security compliance, detection, and prevention of network vulnerabilities while providing secure access to data and insight into processes used in incident response. The platform unifies public cloud, private cloud, and physical network environments through a comprehensive and interactive model that relies on dynamic visualization. Redseal also recently launched RedSeal Stratus whose features draw from the CIS industry standard to detect exposure of critical resources to vector attacks. Pros Installation: The product is quite easy to install and straightforward to integrate. Customer support: The technical support team is quite responsive and effective at communicating solutions. Change management: Redseal recently rolled out the change management integration solution developed in conjunction with ServiceNow. The new feature allows network administrators to identify assets that have been removed from service but are still registered on the network. The new system also helps to identify new unknown areas in the network. Cons Limited: While it is great at providing a great visualization of network resources, it is not robust enough when compared to top competitors in the same category. Ease of use: The user interface is not intuitive enough for new users. It takes time to understand the interface and the various configuration setups. Schedule a Demo 6. Cisco defense orchestrator Cisco Defense Orchestrator (CDO) is a cloud-based management platform that allows security teams to centrally manage and configure Cisco security devices, including Cisco Firepower and Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE). CDO is compatible with various Cisco security products and can be used to manage devices running Cisco Firepower Threat Defense (FTD) software, Cisco Firepower Management Center (FMC) software, and Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) software. It also supports Cisco Meraki devices. Pros Centralized Management: The product allows administrators to manage and configure multiple Cisco security devices from a single platform, reducing the time and effort required to manage multiple devices. Automated Policy Deployment: The system can automatically deploy security policies to Cisco security devices, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring that policies are consistently applied across all devices. Compliance Management: The tool includes built-in compliance templates that can be used to ensure that security policies meet industry standards and regulations. Scalability: The solution can be used to manage a large number of Cisco security devices, making it suitable for organizations of all sizes. Integration: The program can integrate with other Cisco security products, such as Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) and Cisco Meraki devices, to provide a comprehensive security solution. Cloud-based deployment: The system can be deployed in the cloud and provides easy scalability, accessibility and deployment. Cons Limited Device Support: The cybersecurity program is designed to work specifically with Cisco security devices, so it may not be compatible with some devices from other vendors. High Cost: The software suite can be expensive to implement and maintain, especially for organizations with a large number of connected security devices. Schedule a Demo 7. ManageEngine firewall analyzer ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer is a network security policy management tool that helps organizations monitor, analyze, and manage their network firewall security. It provides real-time visibility into network traffic, and firewall rule configurations. The program additionally allows administrators to generate detailed reports and alerts to help identify and mitigate potential security threats. Pros Real-time visibility: Allows administrators to quickly identify and address potential security threats, as well as visibility into network traffic and firewall rule usage. Detailed reporting and alerts: Helps administrators stay informed of security events and potential vulnerabilities. Compliance reporting: It supports various firewall vendors such as Checkpoint, Cisco, Juniper, and Fortinet. It also provides compliance reporting for regulatory standards like PCI-DSS. Multi-vendor support: Compatible with a variety of firewall vendors, including Checkpoint, Cisco, Juniper, and Fortinet. Intuitive user interface: Easy to navigate and understand, making it accessible to administrators of all skill levels. Cons High cost: It may be expensive for some organizations, particularly smaller ones. Limited support for certain firewall vendors: It may not be compatible with all firewall vendors, so organizations should check compatibility before purchasing. Complex setup and configuration: It may require a high level of technical expertise to set up and configure the software. Resource-intensive: It may require a significant amount of system resources to run effectively. Learning curve: It may take some time for administrators to become proficient in using all of the software’s features. Schedule a Demo 8. FortiGate cloud FortiGate Cloud is a cloud-based security management platform offered by Fortinet, a provider of network security solutions. It is designed to help organizations manage and secure their network traffic by providing real-time visibility, security automation, and compliance reporting for their FortiGate devices. With FortiGate Cloud, administrators can deploy, configure, and monitor FortiGate security devices from a single, centralized platform. It provides real-time visibility and control over network traffic and allows administrators to quickly identify and address potential security threats. FortiGate Cloud also includes features such as automated threat detection and incident management, as well as advanced analytics and reporting. It can be used as a central management platform for multiple FortiGate devices, and it can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. Furthermore, it provides the ability to deploy and manage FortiGate firewall in multi-cloud environments. Pros Easy deployment and management: FortiGate Cloud allows for easy deployment and management of security features in a cloud-based environment, eliminating the need for on-premises hardware. Scalability: The platform can easily be scaled making it a good option for businesses of any size. Automatic updates: FortiGate Cloud automatically receives updates and new features, ensuring that network security is always up-to-date. Cost-effective: Using a cloud-based security solution can be more cost-effective than maintaining on-premises hardware, as it eliminates the need for physical space and ongoing maintenance costs. Cons Dependence on internet connectivity: FortiGate Cloud is a cloud-based solution, so it requires a reliable internet connection to function properly. A slow internet connection is likely to impact performance. Additional costs: While cloud-based solutions can be cost-effective, there may be additional costs associated with using FortiGate Cloud, such as data transfer costs. Limited control over infrastructure: As a cloud-based solution, FortiGate Cloud may not offer the same level of control over the underlying infrastructure as on-premises solutions. Schedule a Demo 9. AlienVault USM AlienVault USM (Unified Security Management) is a security management platform that provides organizations with a comprehensive view of their security situation. It includes a variety of security tools, such as intrusion detection and prevention, vulnerability management, and security event management, as well as threat intelligence feeds. AlienVault USM is designed to make it easier for organizations to detect and respond to security threats. Pros Integrated security tools: AlienVault USM includes a variety of security tools, such as intrusion detection and prevention, vulnerability management, and security event management, which can help organizations detect and respond to security threats more effectively. Threat intelligence: AlienVault USM includes threat intelligence feeds that provide organizations with up-to-date information on the latest security threats and vulnerabilities. Easy to use: AlienVault USM is designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, which can make it easier for organizations to implement and manage their security systems. Scalability: AlienVault USM is designed to be scalable, which means that it can be used by organizations of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises. Automated and Correlated Event Management: AlienVault USM can automate and correlate event management which helps to identify and respond to threats more quickly and effectively. Cons Cost: AlienVault USM can be relatively expensive, especially for small businesses and organizations with limited budgets. Complexity: AlienVault USM is a comprehensive security platform that includes a variety of security tools, which can make it complex to use and manage. Integration: AlienVault USM may not be able to integrate with all existing security systems or tools that an organization already has in place. Limited third-party integrations: AlienVault USM may have limited integration with third-party solutions, which can be a limitation. Schedule a Demo 10. SolarWinds network configuration manager SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager (NCM) is a software product offered by SolarWinds. It is used to manage and maintain network device configurations, such as routers, switches, and firewalls. NCM helps to ensure that device configurations are consistent and comply with organizational policies and industry best practices. It also allows for automated configuration backups, change management, and configuration comparison and auditing. Pros Ability to detect and alert on configuration changes: The software has the ability to detect changes made to network devices and send alerts to network administrators, allowing them to quickly identify and address any issues. Rollback capabilities to revert unwanted changes: The software includes rollback capabilities, which allow network administrators to revert unwanted changes made to network devices. This can prevent downtime and other negative consequences caused by accidental or unintended changes. Multi-vendor support for various network devices: The software supports multiple vendors and types of network devices, including routers, switches, and firewalls, which can help manage a diverse network environment. Efficient troubleshooting and problem resolution: The software can help resolve network issues more quickly and efficiently by providing network administrators with detailed information about network device configurations and alerting them to changes. This can help reduce network downtime and improve overall network performance. Cons High cost: SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager can be expensive, especially for large organizations with many network devices. Complex installation and setup: The software can be complex to install and set up, which may require specialized skills and expertise. Requires ongoing maintenance: The software requires ongoing maintenance to ensure that it continues to function properly, which can add to the overall cost. Limited integration with other tools: The software may not integrate well with other tools and systems, which can make it difficult to manage and monitor the network as a whole. Schedule a Demo 11. Avast business hub Avast Business Hub is a cloud-based platform that allows businesses to manage their security and IT needs remotely. The platform provides a centralized dashboard that allows IT teams to manage and monitor multiple devices and services, such as antivirus software, firewalls, and patch management. It also allows IT teams to remotely troubleshoot and resolve issues with devices. Additionally, Avast Business Hub provides businesses with the ability to set and enforce security policies, such as device encryption and password management, to protect sensitive data. Pros Centralized management: The platform allows IT teams to manage and monitor multiple devices and services from a single dashboard. This makes it easier to keep track of security and IT needs. Security policy enforcement: Businesses can use Avast Business Hub to set and enforce security policies, such as device encryption and password management, to protect sensitive data. Real-time monitoring: The platform provides real-time monitoring of devices and services, allowing IT teams to quickly identify and respond to potential security threats. Scalability: Avast Business Hub can be used to manage a small number of devices or a large number of devices, making it suitable for businesses of all sizes. Cloud-based service: The platform is cloud-based, which means that businesses don’t have to invest in additional hardware or software to use it. Cons Internet connection dependency: The platform requires a stable internet connection to function properly, which can be an issue for businesses in areas with poor connectivity. Limited customization: The platform doesn’t offer a lot of customization options, which can make it difficult for users to tailor the system to their specific needs. Learning curve: There is a bit of a learning curve when it comes to using the platform, which can be time-consuming for IT teams. Limited integrations: The platform may not integrate well with all third-party tools a business may use. Schedule a Demo Select a size FireMon: Is it the right choice for your business? Who are the top competitors and alternatives to FireMon? 1. AlgoSec 2. Tufin orchestration suite 3. Skybox security suite 4. Palo Alto networks panorama 5. Redseal 6. Cisco defense orchestrator 7. ManageEngine firewall analyzer 8. FortiGate cloud 9. AlienVault USM 10. SolarWinds network configuration manager 11. Avast business hub Get the latest insights from the experts Use these six best practices to simplify compliance and risk mitigation with the AlgoSec platform White paper Learn how AlgoSec can help you pass PCI-DSS Audits and ensure continuous compliance Solution overview See how this customer improved compliance readiness and risk Case study Choose a better way to manage your network

Protect and manage hybrid network environments with effective security strategies, ensuring seamless integration, visibility, and compliance across diverse infrastructures. Securing & managing hybrid network security Overview Across cloud, SDN, on-premises and anything in between – one platform to manage it all. Making changes was easy with on-premises data centers. Your applications were secured behind lock and key, guarded by physical firewalls in easily-accessible locations. Today, your network doesn’t just live in one place. There are multiple public clouds and private clouds in addition to on-premises network devices. Security controls are a “black box” and your application connectivity crosses multiple borders. This complexity makes it difficult for organizations to securely accelerate application connectivity across their entire network. Schedule a Demo Main Challenges of Hybrid Cloud Security IT and Security staff find it difficult to maintain hybrid network security and deliver application connectivity due to: Lack of network and application visibility – Struggling with visibility into their network’s security policies and associated applications. Understanding the network structures and application flow paths is a challenge. Manual and siloed compliance process – The security audit process is manual. Documentation requirements are complex. Getting a complete view of the compliance status of the entire network is difficult. Audits are point-in-time but regulations require continuous compliance. Potential for network risks – Difficulty in identifying risky rules, such as unused, duplicate, overlapping, or expired rules, and understanding which applications may be impacted. Removing the wrong rule may lead to a data breach or outage. Complex manual change processes – Making changes to application connectivity is slow. Assessing the risk of changes is difficult, yet misconfigurations can cause outages and disrupt business. Changes involve teams speaking different languages with different objectives. Schedule a Demo Key Business Benefits Securely deliver applications faster. Enhance visibility across your entire hybrid network. Ensure changes adhere to internal and regulatory standards. Manage security posture and reduce configuration risks. Process network security policy changes in minutes not days. Avoid errors, rework, and application outages. Schedule a Demo AlgoSec Advantages Visibility into the applications on your network, so you can request changes at the application level. Unified view of the entire on-premises and multi-cloud estate from a single console. Manage multiple layers of security controls and proactively detect misconfigurations. Minimize the attack surface by identifying risks and helping to mitigate them. Match network policy risks to your applications to better understand the impact and prioritize remediation. Identify unused security rules so you have the confidence to remove them. Schedule a Demo Manage the Entire Hybrid Security Environment The AlgoSec platform helps organizations securely accelerate application delivery by automating application connectivity and security policy across the hybrid network estate, including public cloud, private cloud, containers, and on-premises networks. Enable application visibility — Get a full network map of your entire hybrid network security estate. Ensure application discovery across your entire estate and identify your application dependencies. Manage next-generation security policies and cloud security groups alongside traditional firewalls. Get instant visibility of your cloud assets and security controls. Pinpoint and troubleshoot network connectivity issues. Mitigate risks and detect misconfigurations – Easily identify risky security policy rules, the assets and applications they expose, and whether they are in use. Proactively detect misconfigurations to protect cloud assets, including cloud instances, databases, and serverless functions. Achieve continuous compliance – On-going monitoring of multi-cloud and hybrid cloud network-security configuration changes to avoid compliance violations. Identify which applications introduce compliance risk. Automated and audit-ready compliance reports for major global regulations and internal standards. Automate changes intelligently – Cut application delivery bottlenecks with intelligent application change automation. Using zero-touch automation, security policies can be automated from implementation all the way through validating that the changes work exactly as intended. Migrate applications easily – Simplify the complex process of migrating business applications by automatically discovering, mapping, and migrating connectivity configurations with firewalls and security groups. Identify flows serving your applications and track them to security policy. This makes it possible to enable network provisioning as part of your cloud migration. Schedule a Demo About AlgoSec AlgoSec, a global cybersecurity leader, empowers organizations to securely accelerate application delivery by automating application connectivity and security policy, anywhere. The AlgoSec platform enables the world’s most complex organizations to gain visibility, reduce risk, and process changes at zero-touch across the hybrid network. Over 1,800 of the world’s leading organizations trust AlgoSec to help secure their most critical workloads across public cloud, private cloud, containers, and on-premises networks, while taking advantage of almost two decades of leadership in Network Security Policy Management. See what securely accelerating your digital transformation, move-to-cloud, infrastructure modernization, or micro-segmentation initiatives looks like at www.algosec.com . Let's start your journey to our business-centric network security. Schedule a Demo Select a size Overview Main Challenges of Hybrid Cloud Security Key Business Benefits AlgoSec Advantages Manage the Entire Hybrid Security Environment About AlgoSec Get the latest insights from the experts Choose a better way to manage your network

Learn all about CNAPP limitations, why CNAPP is not enough in the cloud, and what additional cloud security pillars businesses need. Why CNAPP is not enough Select a size Which network Can AlgoSec be used for continuous compliance monitoring? Yes, AlgoSec supports continuous compliance monitoring. As organizations adapt their security policies to meet emerging threats and address new vulnerabilities, they must constantly verify these changes against the compliance frameworks they subscribe to. AlgoSec can generate risk assessment reports and conduct internal audits on-demand, allowing compliance officers to monitor compliance performance in real-time. Security professionals can also use AlgoSec to preview and simulate proposed changes to the organization’s security policies. This gives compliance officers a valuable degree of lead-time before planned changes impact regulatory guidelines and allows for continuous real-time monitoring. Executive summary: Why CNAPP is not enough Cloud native application protection platforms (CNAPPs) are unified security platforms that consolidate a diverse suite of tools and capabilities into a single solution. Widely adopted across industries, the cloud native application protection platform market is projected to reach $19.3 billion by 2027, a CAGR of almost 20% from 2022. These cloud security platforms are often positioned as "all-in-one" or "end-to-end" fortifications for contemporary cloud environments. However, a pressing question persists: Are CNAPPs enough? The dominant assumption is that CNAPPs can single-handedly tackle all enterprise cloud security requirements. However, enterprises should be aware of some critical CNAPP limitations; these can involve: Application security Network security Policy management Without addressing the cloud security blind spots of CNAPPs, minor vulnerabilities can escalate into significant security and compliance incidents. This article dives into the reasons why CNAPPs are so popular, what capabilities they offer, and how companies can transcend their limitations. Why are enterprises embracing cloud-native application protection platforms? CNAPPs are unified and integrated cloud security platforms, promising robust and centralized governance, security, and compliance control and oversight. They’re a captivating option when dealing with complex multi-cloud and hybrid cloud architectures. Setting CNAPP limitations aside for a moment, let’s explore what tools and capabilities these popular cloud security platforms feature. Cloud security posture management (CSPM) CSPM tools continuously monitor and scan IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS infrastructure for misconfigurations and risks. They also support triage and remediation of any cloud misconfigurations identified. Cloud infrastructure entitlement management (CIEM) CIEM tools are the cloud-native version of identity and access management (IAM) solutions. They detect and mitigate identity-related risks such as overprivileged accounts and subpar password policies. Cloud workload protection Cloud workload protection solutions monitor cloud-native workloads across hybrid and multi-cloud architectures for threats. Workloads in the cloud may refer to data, applications, serverless functions, containers, or virtual machines. But do cloud workload protection tools provide comprehensive runtime security and application security? More on that soon. External attack surface management (EASM) EASM tools focus on inventorying, monitoring, and reducing risks across public-facing digital assets. The overall objective of EASM solutions is to minimize the cloud attack surface and reveal blind spots. Container and Kubernetes security Container and Kubernetes security capabilities are crucial components of cloud security platforms, focusing on managing and fortifying containerized applications across multi-cloud environments. Vulnerability management Vulnerability management tools proactively scan cloud layers (workloads, APIs, applications, and data) for misconfigurations like insecure APIs, unencrypted data, and excessive permissions. As highlighted above, cloud native application protection platforms are equipped with a diverse and dynamic range of tools. However, risk-ridden cloud security blind spots make these tools insufficient for complete visibility and coverage across complex environments. CNAPP limitations and cloud security blind spots The features covered in the previous section are essential cloud security pillars. Nevertheless, CNAPPs aren't all-encompassing. This section examines these cloud native application protection platforms' biggest cloud security blind spots. In other words, why CNAPP is not enough. Inadequate hybrid cloud coverage One of the biggest cloud security blind spots businesses face? Legacy architecture. CNAPPs are purpose-built to operate in cloud environments. That means, companies with on-premises or hybrid setups might struggle to achieve interconnected visibility and security—even with strong CSPM or cloud workload protection tools. Disproportionate focus on runtime security Runtime security is in the CNAPP wheelhouse. However, some cloud security platforms over-emphasize runtime security and lack coverage in the initial stages of application pipelines. This incomplete visibility is a major application security vulnerability. Remember: A strong runtime security posture doesn’t make up for subpar application security capabilities. Lack of application visibility and context Modern multi-cloud and hybrid environments are primarily made up of applications . While the term “cloud native application security platform” suggests robust application security, CNAPPs often lack deep visibility into applications and their connectivity flows. CNAPP limitations also include a lack of application context: Businesses might know what applications they have, but they may not be able to map broader network security risks to specific applications. Incomplete network security CNAPPs have various features and telemetry capabilities that support cloud network security, but they lack advanced network security controls and tools. For example, CNAPPs can’t fine-tune firewalls, conduct deep packet inspections, or establish network traffic rules. Subpar API security Cloud native application protection platforms don’t always have deep API security capabilities. This is an issue, given APIs are an increasingly prevalent attack vector for adversaries. Weak API security is an application security vulnerability because without API visibility and context, it’s impossible to map application dependencies and identity misconfigurations. Restricted DevSecOps support CNAPPs can help security teams shift left, but they’re not a comprehensive DevSecOps powerhouse. This is due to many of the above-mentioned deficiencies: fractured application and connectivity visibility, as well as a lack of advanced network security options. In complex hybrid cloud architectures, these weaknesses complicate compliance and policy management—and consequently compromise DevSecOps programs. What additional layers of security do enterprises need? Cloud native application protection platform components like CSPM and CIEM are critical security pillars, but it’s evident that CNAPP is not enough for businesses today. Let’s discuss what additional capabilities you need. Advanced application security With applications dominating enterprise IT environments, companies need a cutting-edge application security tool with complete hybrid coverage, as well as connectivity and dependency mapping. Must-have features include deep application contextualization and the ability to map network risks to specific applications. Network security posture management (NSPM) Achieving visibility, security, and compliance across hybrid networks isn’t straightforward, which is why businesses need a strong NSPM tool. Top NSPM solutions enable businesses to visualize their network topology and apply unique firewall rules to understand, control, and secure traffic. They also help businesses enforce zero trust tenets like least privilege and network micro-segmentation. Automated security policy management Cloud environments are dynamic and constantly in flux, making policy and configuration management a tricky endeavor. The initial challenge is designing the right policies, but the bigger complexity is enforcing them consistently without compromising speed or scale. And that’s exactly what the best policy management tools do: Automate every step of the lifecycle, from risk analysis and policy design to implementation and validation. Hybrid cloud compliance management The underlying challenge across every pillar of cloud security, from API security to safe DevSecOps workflows, is ensuring compliance. Today, enterprises have a labyrinth of regulatory requirements they need to adhere to—from GDPR and SOX to industry-specific regulations like HIPAA. You need a compliance tool that can: Generate audit-ready reports Automatically vet policy change requests against compliance requirements Automatically discover traffic flows The benefits of transcending CNAPP limitations There are multiple benefits that enterprises can unlock by adding additional layers of security, such as those discussed above: Reinforced application security posture: Complete and contextual application visibility across the entire lifecycle Enhanced hybrid cloud governance: Control over hybrid cloud infrastructure, applications, data, security tools, and policies Fewer data breaches: Avoidance of the financial, legal, and reputational consequences of suffering data breaches (now featuring an average cost of $4.4 million, according to IBM ) Stronger compliance posture: Adherence to federal, local, and industry-specific laws and regulations More developer-friendly environments: Streamlined and optimized DevSecOps workflows; high-speed development with zero security compromises Boosted cloud performance: Major productivity gains and increased cloud ROI via optimized hybrid cloud governance To wrap up, it’s time to meet the cloud security platform that can help enterprises plug traditional CNAPP gaps and provide comprehensive hybrid cloud security. AlgoSec: A cloud security platform built for modern challenges AlgoSec is a cutting-edge cloud security solution that reinforces every CNAPP pillar while also addressing the most critical CNAPP limitations. AlgoSec Cloud Enterprise (ACE) streamlines every aspect of complex hybrid cloud security, including with automated compliance and policy management. From its emphasis on application visibility and security to zero-touch change management, ACE, along with supporting tools such as AppViz , FireFlow , and Firewall Analyzer , plugs every CNAPP gap and reinforces your overall cloud security posture. No, CNAPP is not enough, and enterprises should swiftly adopt an application-centric hybrid cloud security platform like AlgoSec to achieve the additional layers of cloud security needed in today’s threat landscape. To learn more about how AlgoSec strengthens everything from API security to DevSecOps workflows, and see why over 2,200 companies are already using it, request a demo today. FAQs What are some key CNAPP limitations? CNAPP limitations include excessive emphasis on runtime security, incomplete application security and visibility, weak API security, and DevSecOps deficiencies. What is cloud security posture management (CSPM)? CSPM tools are security solutions that monitor cloud-native infrastructure for security risks and misconfigurations. What is cloud infrastructure entitlement management (CIEM)? CIEM is a type of cloud security tool that focuses on IAM risks in cloud environments. Get the latest insights from the experts Schedule time with one of our experts Work email* First name* Last name* Company* country* Select country... Short answer* By submitting this form, I accept AlgoSec's privacy policy Continue

Optimize cloud security and management with AlgoSec Cloud for Microsoft Azure, providing visibility, compliance, and automation for your hybrid cloud environment. AlgoSec Cloud for Microsoft Azure Cloud security policy and configuration management made simple As organizations adopt cloud strategies and migrate applications to Microsoft Azure and other clouds to take advantage of economies of scale, they face new levels of complexity and risk to their security posture. Security controls and network architectures in Azure are distinct from those found in on-premise data centers. Customers of Azure services often do not know how to use them securely. AlgoSec Cloud enables effective management of the security control layers across the hybrid and multi-cloud estate, including Microsoft Azure. Schedule a Demo Cloud security main challenges IT and Security staffs find it difficult to create and maintain security in the cloud due to: Complexity of multiple layers of security controls includingCloud providers’ built-in configurations that impact security posture, such as IAM permissions, encryption state, security groups, public/private permissions, asset types like databases, storage and accounts, as well as configuration types like deployment location, networks ACLs, and Misconfigurations can result in security risks across various assets, including IaaS, PaaS and accounts. Security products by cloud providers with many different mechanisms and operational rules and techniques like Azure Security products by independent security vendors (e.g., Next Generation Firewalls by Check Point and Palo Alto Networks). Multiple public clouds along with private clouds and on-premise Security professionals are challenged by the need to understand the differences in the technologies while managing them separately using multiple consoles and diverse tools. Multiple stakeholders managing the security in the cloud. Unlike on-prem networks where policies are typically managed by security teams, in the cloud, other stakeholders (application developers, DevOps, cloud teams) manage changes to cloud configurations and security rules, challenging consistency and control, and increasing the risk of misconfigurations Schedule a Demo All cloud security under a single umbrella AlgoSec Cloud enables effective security management of the various security-control layers across the multi-cloud estate. AlgoSec Cloud central management provides instant visibility, risk assessment and compliance analysis, enabling enforcement of company and regulatory policies, and proactive detection of misconfigurations Schedule a Demo Manage your Microsoft Azure security environment When used in conjunction with AlgoSec’s Firewall Analyzer and FireFlow, customers benefit from a hybrid approach, spanning on-premise, SDN and legacy network security. Continuous Visibility. Always know about the assets that require protection and the multiple security constructs and configurations protecting them. Monitor changes to the cloud configuration and the potential risk of each change. Risk management and compliance. Enforce company and regulatory policies while verifying adherence to best practices. Proactively detect misconfigurations in access, permissions and other configurations to protect cloud assets, including cloud accounts, VMs, storage, databases and more. Automated central management of security policies. Manage network security controls (Network Security Groups, etc.) in one system across multiple accounts, regions and VNETs. Leverage a uniform network model and change- management framework that covers the hybrid and multi-cloud environment. Schedule a Demo Azure Firewall AlgoSec delivers an intuitive and effective central management solution for Azure Firewall, Microsoft’s cloud-native, scalable network and application firewall. Users can consistently manage multiple instances of Azure Firewalls across regions and multiple Azure accounts. Schedule a Demo Quick deployment AlgoSec Cloud is an agentless SaaS solution and is easy to deploy in minutes. It offers immediate ROI and significant security improvements. Schedule a Demo Key Business Benefits Enhanced visibility across the entire hybrid and multi-cloud estate Improved cloud-security posture to avoid breaches Automatic compliance assurance with constant audit-readiness Secure change management at the speed of cloud deployment Reduced manual labor, errors, and associated risks and costs Schedule a Demo AlgoSec Cloud Advantages Unified view of the entire network, hybrid and multi-cloud estates from a unified platform Simplified management of complex multi-layered cloud security controls Automatic risk detection and recommended best practices Avoidance of false alarms – risk analysis takes into consideration all security constructs Schedule a Demo Comprehensive and Unified Security for Heterogeneous Environments AlgoSec seamlessly integrates with all leading brands of traditional and next-generation firewalls and cloud security controls as well as routers, load balancers, web proxies, and SIEM solutions, to deliver unified security policy management across any hybrid-cloud, multi-cloud, SDN, and on-premise network. Additional devices can be added via the AlgoSec Extension Framework. Let's start your journey to our business-centric network security. Schedule a Demo Select a size Cloud security policy and configuration management made simple Cloud security main challenges All cloud security under a single umbrella Manage your Microsoft Azure security environment Azure Firewall Quick deployment Key Business Benefits AlgoSec Cloud Advantages Comprehensive and Unified Security for Heterogeneous Environments Get the latest insights from the experts Choose a better way to manage your network

Ensure your firewall meets all PCI DSS requirements. Learn essential best practices for configuring and managing your firewall for optimal PCI compliance. Firewall PCI DSS compliance: Requirements & best practices What is a firewall PCI DSS compliance? PCI DSS compliance refers to a set of security measures that apply to businesses handling payment cards, e.g., credit cards, debit cards, and cash cards. The full meaning of the term PCI DSS is Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard. All companies that accept, process, store, or transmit credit card information require PCI Compliance as it ensures data security during and outside financial transactions. PCI DSS compliance is the rules and policies companies processing, storing, or transmitting payment card information must adhere to, helping them build a secure environment for card data. The PCI security standards council (PCI SSC) is the body responsible for managing PCI DSS. PCI SSC was formed in 2006 and has since been providing policies that tackle evolving cyber threats in the payment card industry. A firewall PCI DSS compliance refers to the process of configuring a firewall to monitor and filter incoming and outgoing internet traffic based on PCI DSS policies. Firewalls function based on a set of security rules, enabling them to block bad traffic like viruses and hackers from penetrating your network. Establishing a PCI-compliant firewall gives companies robust payment card information security that meets business needs and effectively protects sensitive data. Schedule a Demo What are the benefits of a PCI-compliant firewall? Hackers see credit cards and other payment card types as money-making opportunities. They tirelessly attack systems and networks to extract cardholders’ personal information and sensitive authentication data, which they can exploit. Examples of cardholder data are: Primary Account Number (PAN) Cardholder name Expiration date Service code Sensitive authentication data include: Full track data (magnetic-stripe data or equivalent on a chip) CAV2/CVC2/CVV2/CID PINs/PIN blocks Becoming PCI-compliant means you have effective security solutions to help defend your network against attacks and protect the financial and personal data of payment cards. A PCI-compliant firewall has been configured following PCI policies to allow specific network traffic and block others from accessing card data. Some benefits of having a PCI-compliant firewall in your organization include: Builds customer trust Any business that stores, processes, accepts, or transmits credit card information must have a reliable cybersecurity solution to gain customers’ trust. Users want reassurance that their data is safely stored and transmitted in your organization’s network, backed by the strictest information security policy. By showing that your business meets international standards for card information security, you can easily build customer trust and increase patronage. Prevents data breaches The primary benefit of PCI DSS compliance is that it eliminates the risks of data breaches. Data breaches can lead to huge financial losses and even damage a company’s reputation. Often, hackers look for easy targets, and one quick way to find them is by checking for companies whose firewall configuration isn’t PCI-compliant. Being PCI-compliant shows any potential attacker that your network security is top-notch, thus discouraging them from taking any further action. It displays that your cardholder data environment is protected by formidable security solutions that meet industry regulations and best practices. Helps you to meet global standards PCI DSS compliance was put together by the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI SSC). The body was formed by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and JCB– the top five payment card firms. They designed this payment card information security policy to prevent data breaches and protect network system components, including servers, firewalls, etc. Building a PCI-compliant firewall confirms that your business aligns with the most trusted payment firms and meets global cybersecurity standards for payment cards. Prevents fines and penalties Besides the financial loss that hackers directly cause from data breaches, companies may also suffer heavy fines and penalties. They may be required to foot card replacement bills, audit fees, investigation costs, and even compensate for customers’ losses. Every business that processes, stores, accepts, or transmits payment card data must meet the ideal security standards required to avoid fines and penalties. More importantly, becoming compliant helps you establish a good reputation for your business online and offline. Puts security first A compliant firewall enjoys round-the-clock security as it is fully configured to regulate physical access and network-based attacks. So even if there’s an internal malicious actor, you can still secure your customers and prevent unauthorized access. This attitude of putting security first across your IT infrastructure can save you from losses worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in the long run. Maximum speed functionality Organizations that deploy industry-standard firewall policies can function at maximum speed as they’re assured they have a secure network. Working at full speed enables goods or service providers to generate greater revenue as they can satisfy more customers within a short time. Plus, PCI firewall rules don’t only protect the Cardholder Data Environment against attacks, but they also improve your system’s operational efficiency. As a result, you generate maximum ROI from your investment. Schedule a Demo How does PCI compliance affect my business? As a business handling, storing, processing, or transmitting payment card data, it’s essential to prioritize building trust and a positive reputation. This is because customers prefer to do business with brands they trust to provide top security for their card information. Unarguably, being PCI-compliant is one of the core ways to show customers and partners that your business can be trusted. It makes them understand that your security posture meets international standards and can withstand tough security threats. Also, with your compliance certification, you gain a competitive advantage over many other businesses as statistics show that only about 36% of businesses are PCI-compliant. Being compliant allows you to compete with top brands by displaying the alignment of your card data security with the best industry practices. More interestingly, PCI compliance allows every component of your network environment to function optimally, thus giving an impressive and satisfactory output. Schedule a Demo How should the PCI DSS firewall configuration be? PCI DSS firewall should be configured in line with standard practices to protect Cardholder Data Environments (CDE) effectively. You must first regulate the flow of traffic to gain more control and create an effective risk management strategy that prevents cybercriminals from impacting your network. Organizations with a highly complex CDE may resort to segmentation using multiple firewalls, which involves separating systems for better control. Here’s how the PCI DSS firewall should be configured: Set security : Every switch port should have security settings, especially when following segmentation practices. You must set firewalls at the CDE boundaries and also between untrusted networks and the demilitarized zone (DMZ). The DMZ is a sub-network providing an extra layer of security to your internal private network. Establish rules: Set and regularly update firewall rules so that systems and system ports are only accessed by authorized sources. All wireless networks should have perimeter firewalls installed to prevent access from outside the defined environment. Outdated software programs and default passwords should also be avoided during configuration. Inbound/outbound rules: Determine what traffic should be allowed to enter or exit your network based on business needs. Firewalls should only allow traffic needed in the CDE, while other unnecessary traffic must be blocked. Also, direct traffic from the CDE to the Internet should be blocked to avoid creating a loophole. Use VPNs: remote users accessing the system should do so via virtual private networks (VPNs). Also, their portable devices (laptops, desktops, or smart devices) should have firewalls installed. Add/Close switch ports : You should use switch ports (e.g., Internet, office, CDE) to segment different networks. Also, ensure that end users can’t alter the firewall’s configuration on devices and that their management procedures are well-documented. Schedule a Demo Twelve requirements to become PCI-compliant? Every company that aims to achieve PCI compliance must fulfill the twelve PCI DSS compliance requirements. Doing this ensures that your organization’s network enjoys top-tier security controls against any cybersecurity threat. Below are the PCI DSS requirements. 1. Install a firewall and maintain it The first step toward becoming PCI-compliant is installing and maintaining a firewall. Proper firewall configuration will effectively block all untrusted networks attempting to penetrate your system to steal data. Businesses must configure their firewalls, routers, and other network security devices through industry standard rules to ensure they filter inbound and outbound traffic effectively. Inbound traffic is traffic originating from outside your network and attempting to penetrate it, while outbound traffic comes from within your network and goes out. It’s crucial to have standard inbound and outbound firewall rules to protect the network against malicious incoming traffic, such as malware, denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, etc. With firewalls, routers, and other components properly configured, your first line of defense is optimized for card data protection. 2. Initiate strong password protections Third-party components in your IT infrastructure, such as servers, network devices, point of sale (PoS) systems, applications, access points, etc., must be protected with strong passwords. Avoid using vendor-supplied defaults or generic passwords because they are simple and can be guessed easily. In fact, many of them are published online, hence why changing them to stronger passwords is a requirement. You must also have a list of the devices and software that require a password or any other security feature in your network. Plus, you should document your company’s configuration procedures from the time you obtain the third-party product until it enters your IT network. Doing this helps in vulnerability management so that you will take all required security measures each time you introduce a new component to your IT infrastructure. 3. Protect the data of cardholders The essence of becoming PCI-compliant is to protect cardholder data, and that’s why this third requirement is the most important of all. Companies must know the type of data they want to store, its location, and the retention period. Knowing the type of data you want to store helps in determining the most secure way to protect it. Encryption can protect all data through industry-accepted algorithms, truncation, or tokenization. Typically, two-layer protection is considered the best, such as using both encryption and tokenization. You must conduct regular maintenance and scanning to detect any unencrypted primary account numbers (PAN) and ensure that your PCI DSS encryption key management process is strong. As part of the third requirement, businesses should follow standard security controls when displaying primary account numbers. Ideally, only the first six and last four digits can be displayed. 4. Encrypt data that gets transmitted When data is transmitted across open, public networks like the Internet, WiFi, and Bluetooth, it must be encrypted. Failure to encrypt data puts it at great risk, as cybercriminals can often access such data. However, with proper encryption, you can maintain top security for your data at rest and in transit. Also, you should know the destination and source of card data to avoid sending or receiving data from untrusted networks. 5. Install and maintain anti-virus software Companies must install and maintain anti-virus software to protect against malware that can impact system performance. All systems and devices (e.g., laptops, desktops, mobile devices, workstations, etc.) providing local and remote IT network access should have anti-virus programs installed on them. These devices are commonly affected by malware which disrupts system functionality and allows unauthorized access to your network. Nonetheless, with an active and up-to-date anti-virus or anti-malware program, you can detect known malware, protect your system from malicious actors, and have more access control. 6. Update your systems and software The next layer of requirement is the update and maintenance of systems and applications. You should define and implement a process that identifies security risks from anti-virus programs to firewalls. This process should deploy a reliable third-party source to classify these security risks and send notifications for any newly discovered vulnerabilities in the PCI DSS environment. To ensure effective vulnerability management, you should patch (update) all systems, especially those that store or interact with the cardholder data. Examples of other systems that should be patched regularly include routers, application software, switches, databases, and POS terminals. Timely patching helps you resolve any vulnerabilities or bugs (errors) in your system before bad actors take advantage of them. 7. Restrict access to data Access control is a huge criterion when it comes to achieving PCI compliance. Employees should only have access to the data required to fulfill their roles and meet business needs. In other words, access to card data and systems should strictly be on a need-to-know basis. All staff who do not need cardholder data to execute their roles should be restricted from accessing it to prevent unnecessary exposure of sensitive data. Also, you must have a comprehensive list of all staff who need card data and their roles. Other details to document include: role definition current privilege level expected privilege level data resources required by each user to execute operations on card data. 8. Establish unique IDs for those with access After determining users who need access to cardholder data, you’re required to establish unique IDs for each of them. Some organizations use shared/group passwords for staff, which makes it challenging to track certain activities. Such organizations must switch to having unique IDs for each authorized user to fulfill the eighth requirement for PCI DSS compliance. A two-layer authentication must be implemented for every non-console administrative access (remote access). Establishing a complex and unique ID for each person with access to card data allows you to trace any unusual activity to their respective users. Thus, every user can take responsibility for their actions and be summoned for accountability or even face the necessary disciplinary actions for their security errors. If there’s a security threat, unique IDs enable swift response before serious damage is done. 9. Physical access needs to be limited Physical access to systems with cardholder data must be restricted to prevent data theft, manipulation, or destruction. The systems must be locked in a secure location (in a room, drawer, or cabinet). You should monitor the entry and exit doors of physical locations like data centers using surveillance cameras or electronic access controls. All physical access to systems with cardholder data must be kept in a log and retained for at least 90 days. Companies should allow only authorized visitors in the area and keep a document of their activities. Whenever an employee is switching roles or during resignation, all company-related systems with cardholder data or access to your internal network should be retrieved. Finally, on the restriction of physical access, you must destroy any media or device that’s no longer needed in your system. 10. Establish and maintain access logs One very common non-compliance challenge is the establishment and maintenance of access logs. Organizations must have a proper record-keeping and documentation process for all activities across their network, including data flow and access frequency. The collected information about access logs and other activities should be reviewed daily to detect and address any irregular actions. This requirement mandates that the collected information must meet the standard and be taken in real-time to enhance the audit phase. 11. Scan and perform tests to identify vulnerabilities Hackers understand that every system has a degree of vulnerability, and that’s why they tirelessly try new methods to help them penetrate networks and steal data. However, with frequent vulnerability scans and penetration testing, you can stay on top of cyber threats and keep users’ payment card details safe at all times. Vulnerability scans can help you discover any possible error in software programs and your entire security system. With penetration testing, you can discover your IT infrastructure’s weaknesses using the same tools and techniques as hackers. As a result, you will be able to block any loopholes in your physical and wireless networks before cybercriminals detect them. 12. Document your policies The last requirement for PCI DSS compliance relates to the documentation of information security policies. The policies must be reviewed annually and forwarded to the right persons (such as employees, vendors, etc.) to tackle evolving cyber threats effectively. Some important information to include during documentation includes your inventory of equipment, the process of information flow and storage, software, employees with access to sensitive data, etc. As part of fulfilling the last requirement, you must: Perform a formal risk assessment to determine critical assets, threats, and vulnerabilities. Conduct user awareness training Run employee background checks Perform incident management Schedule a Demo How AlgoSec helps with PCI DSS compliance Achieving PCI DSS compliance is one big step toward success for any business storing, processing, accepting, or transmitting payment card information. The process is often daunting and time-consuming as companies must meet the twelve compliance requirements to get their certification. Firewall configuration alone, which is the first requirement, requires keeping thousands of rules in mind. It’s one of the most challenging requirements on the path to PCI DSS Compliance, especially since the rule bases frequently change. Also, even after receiving compliance certification, businesses must show that their security systems continuously align with the industry’s regulations and standards through consistent auditing. All this work can be quite tedious for companies, making it challenging to achieve or maintain PCI DSS compliance. Now, that’s where AlgoSec comes in. AlgoSec helps you with PCI DSS compliance by preparing your firewalls with the proper configuration that’ll help you be compliant and fulfill the first requirement easily. From installation to maintenance, we’d assist you in setting up a compliant firewall that provides formidable security for the cardholder data environment. At AlgoSec, we understand the PCI DSS firewall requirements to achieve a compliant firewall and have the right tools and solutions to configure your firewall. Furthermore, we’d help you consistently stay compliant by identifying gaps in compliance and enabling you to remediate them. By leveraging our intelligent automation solution, you can avoid costly errors caused by manual work, thus helping you stay compliant and secure when adding, removing, or changing policy rules. We know the challenges most companies face when attaining PCI DSS compliance. That’s why we have created an effective solution that enables flawless data collection and auditing, thus helping you establish and maintain access logs as well as document your policies effortlessly. Lastly, we help your business stay continuously compliant by simplifying firewall audits. This allows you to quickly detect any loopholes and regularly update your firewall rules to avoid violating any policy. Schedule a Demo Select a size What is a firewall PCI DSS compliance? What are the benefits of a PCI-compliant firewall? How does PCI compliance affect my business? How should the PCI DSS firewall configuration be? Twelve requirements to become PCI-compliant? How AlgoSec helps with PCI DSS compliance Get the latest insights from the experts Use these six best practices to simplify compliance and risk mitigation with the AlgoSec platform White paper Learn how AlgoSec can help you pass PCI-DSS Audits and ensure Solution overview See how this customer improved compliance readiness and risk Case study Choose a better way to manage your network

Ensure your network security is up to par with a comprehensive firewall audit checklist. Review and optimize security policy rules to prevent vulnerabilities. Firewall audit checklist for security policy rules review Ensuring continuous compliance More regulations and standards relating to information security, such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and ISO 27001, have forced enterprises to put more emphasis—in terms of time and money—on compliance and the regular and ad hoc auditing of security policies and controls. While regulatory and internal audits cover a broad range of security checks, the firewall is featured prominently since it is the first and main line of defense between the public and the corporate network. The number of enterprises that are not affected by regulations is shrinking. But even if you do not have to comply with specific government or industrial regulations and security standards, it is now commonplace to conduct regular, thorough audits of your firewalls. Not only do these audits ensure that your firewall configurations and rules meet the proper requirements of external regulations or internal security policy, but these audits can also play a critical role in reducing risk and actually improve firewall performance by optimizing the firewall rule base. In today’s complex, multi-vendor network environments, typically including tens or hundreds of firewalls running thousands of rules, completed a manual security audit now borders on the impossible. Conducting the audit process manually, firewall administrators must rely on their own experience and expertise—which can vary greatly across organizations—to determine if a given firewall rule should or should not be included in the configuration file. Furthermore, documentation of current rules and their evolution of changes is usually lacking. The time and resources required to find, organize and pour through all of the firewall rules to determine the level of compliance significantly impacts IT staff. As networks grow in complexity, auditing becomes more cumbersome. Manual processes cannot keep up. Automating the firewall audit process is crucial as compliance must be continuous, not simply at a point in time. The firewall audit process is arduous. Each new rule must pre-analyzed and simulated before it can be implemented. A full and accurate audit log of each change must be maintained. Today’s security staffs now find that being audit-ready without automation is impractical if not virtually impossible. It’s time to look to automation along with the establishment of auditing best practices to maintain continuous compliance. Below, we share a proven checklist of six best practices for a firewall audits based on AlgoSec’s extensive experience in consulting with some of the largest global organizations and auditors who deal with firewall audit, optimization and change management processes and procedures. While this is not an exhaustive list that every organization must follow, it provides guidance on some critical areas to cover when conducting a firewall audit. FIGURE 1: Overview of the Recommended Firewall Audit Process Get a Demo Schedule a Demo Gather key information prior to starting the audit An audit has little chance of success without visibility into the network, including software, hardware, policies and risks. The following are examples of the key information required to plan the audit work: Copies of relevant security policies Access to firewall logs that can be analyzed against the firewall rule base to understand which rules are actually being used An accurate diagram of the current network and firewall topologies Reports and documents from previous audits, including firewall rules, objects and policy revisions Identification of all Internet Service Providers (ISP) and Virtual Private Networks (VPN) All relevant firewall vendor information including OS version, latest patches and default configuration Understanding all the key servers and information repositories in the network and the value of each Once you have gathered this information, how are you going to aggregate it and storing it? Trying to track compliance on spreadsheets is a surefire way to make the audit process painful, tedious and time-consuming. Instead of spreadsheets, the auditor needs to document, store and consolidate this vital information in a way that enables collaboration with IT counterparts. With this convenience access, auditors you can start reviewing policies and procedures and tracking their effectiveness in terms of compliance, operational efficiency and risk mitigation. Schedule a Demo Review the change management process A good change management process is essential to ensure proper execution and traceability of firewall changes as well as for sustainability over time to ensure compliance continuously. Poor documentation of changes, including why each change is needed, who authorized the change, etc. and poor validation of the impact on the network of each change are two of the most common problems when it comes to change control. Review the procedures for rule-base change management. Just a few key questions to review include:Are requested changes going through proper approvals? Are changes being implemented by authorized personnel? Are changes being tested? Are changes being documented per regulatory and/ or internal policy requirements? Each rule should have a comment that includes the change ID of the request and the name/initials of the person who implemented the change. Is there an expiration date for the change? Determine if there is a formal and controlled process in place to request, review, approve and implement firewall changes. This process should include at least the following:Business purpose for a change request Duration (time period) for new/modified rule Assessment of the potential risks associated with the new/modified rule Formal approvals for new/modified rule Assignment to proper administrator for implementation Verification that change has been tested and implemented correctly Determine whether all of the changes have been authorized and flag unauthorized rule changes for further investigation. Determine if real-time monitoring of changes to a firewall are enabled and if access to rul Schedule a Demo Audit the firewall’s physical and OS security It is important to be certain as to each firewall’s physical and software security to protect against the most fundamental types of cyberattack. Ensure that firewall and management servers are physically secured with controlled access. Ensure that there is a current list of authorized personnel permitted to access the firewall server rooms. Verify that all appropriate vendor patches and updates have been applied. Ensure that the operating system passes common hardening checklists. Review the procedures used for device administration. Schedule a Demo Cleanup and optimize the rule base Removing firewall clutter and optimizing the rule base can greatly improve IT productivity and firewall performance. Additionally, optimizing firewall rules can significantly reduce a lot of unnecessary overhead in the audit process. Delete covered rules that are effectively useless. Delete or disable expired and unused rules and objects. Identify disabled, time-inactive and unused rules that are candidates for removal. Evaluate the order of firewall rules for effectiveness and performance. Remove unused connections, including source/ destination/service routes, that are not in use. Detect similar rules that can be consolidated into a single rule. Identify overly permissive rules by analyzing the actual policy usage against firewall logs. Tune these rules as appropriate for policy and actual use scenarios. Analyze VPN parameters to identify unused users, unattached users, expired users, users about to expire, unused groups, unattached groups and expired groups. Enforce object-naming conventions. Document rules, objects and policy revisions for future reference. Schedule a Demo Conduct a risk assessment and remediate issues Essential for any firewall audit, a comprehensive risk assessment will identify risky rules and ensure that rules are compliant with internal policies and relevant standards and regulations. Identify any and all potentially “risky” rules, based on industry standards and best practices, and prioritize them by severity. What is “risky” can be different for each organization depending on the network and the level of acceptable risk, but there are many frameworks and standards you can leverage that provide a good reference point. A few things to look for and validate include: Are there firewall rules that violate your corporate security policy? Are there any firewall rules with “ANY” in the source, destination, service/protocol, application or user fields, and with a permissive action? Are there rules that allow risky services from your DMZ to your internal network? Are there rules that allow risky services inbound from the Internet? Are there rules that allow risky services outbound to the Internet? Are there rules that allow direct traffic from the Internet to the internal network (not the DMZ)? Are there any rules that allow traffic from the Internet to sensitive servers, networks, devices or databases? Analyze firewall rules and configurations against relevant regulatory and/or industry standards such as PCI-DSS, SOX, ISO 27001, NERC CIP, Basel-II, FISMA and J-SOX, as well as corporate policies that define baseline hardware and software configurations to which devices must adhere (See Figure 4 on page 9). Document and assign an action plan for remediation of risks and compliance exceptions found in risk analysis. Verify that remediation efforts and any rule changes have been completed correctly. Track and document that remediation efforts are completed. Schedule a Demo Ongoing audits Upon successful firewall and security device auditing, verifying secure configuration, proper steps must be put in place to ensure continuous compliance. Ensure that a process is established for continuous auditing of firewalls. Consider replacing error-prone manual tasks with automated analysis and reporting. Ensure that all audit procedures are properly documented, providing a complete audit trail of all firewall management activities. Make sure that a robust firewall-change workflow is in place to sustain compliance over time.This repeats Audit Checklist item #2 because is necessary to ensure continuous compliance, i.e., compliance might be achieved now, but in a month, the organization might once again be out of compliance. Ensure that there is an alerting system in place for significant events or activities, such as changes in certain rules or the discovery of a new, high severity risk in the policy. Schedule a Demo Automating firewall compliance audits with AlgoSec When it comes to compliance, the firewall policy management solution must have the breadth and depth to automatically generate detailed reports for multiple regulations and standards. It also must support multiple firewalls and related security devices. By combining this firewall audit checklist with the AlgoSec Security Management Solution, organizations can significantly improve their security posture and reduce the pain of ensuring compliance with regulations, industry standards and corporate policies. Furthermore, they can ensure compliance continuously without spending significant resources wasting time and effort on complex security policies on a regular basis. Let’s go back through the checklist and look at a few examples of how AlgoSec can help. Gain visibility of network policies and their changes AlgoSec enables you to gather the key information needed to start the audit process. By generating a dynamic, interactive network map AlgoSec visualizes and helps you analyze complex networks. (See Figure 2.) You can view routing tables and effectively detect interfaces, subnets and zones. Additionally, AlgoSec provides you with visibility of all changes to your network security policies in real-time and creates detailed firewall audit reports to help approvers make informed decisions about changes that affect risk or compliance levels. Lastly, AlgoSec discovers all the business applications that run on your network and each of their associated connectivity flows. FIGURE 2: AlgoSec provides network topology awareness with a map that provides visibility of all firewalls and routers including all relevant interfaces, subnets and zones, and the ability to drill down to specific information about each device. Understand the firewall changes in your network and automate the process AlgoSec intelligently automates the security-policy change workflow, dramatically cutting the time required to process firewall changes, increasing accuracy and accountability, enforcing compliance and mitigating risk. In addition, AlgoSec provides flexible workflows and templates to help you manage change requests and tailor processes to your business needs. Clean up and optimize your rule base AlgoSec enables you to optimize and clean up cluttered policies with actionable recommendations to: Consolidate similar rules. Discover and remove unused rules and objects (See Figure 3). Identify and remove shadowed, duplicate, and expired rules. Reorder rules for optimal firewall performance while retaining policy logic. Tighten overly permissive rules based on actual usage patterns. Not only does this help you improve the performance and extend the life of your firewalls, it also saves time when it comes to troubleshooting issues and IT audits. Plus, it creates a time savings during rule recertification, as each application is associated with multiple connectivity needs requiring multiple firewall rules. FIGURE 3: Unused rules that AlgoSec has identified for removal. Conduct a risk assessment and remediate issues AlgoSec enables you to instantly discover and prioritize all risks and potentially risky rules in the firewall policy, leveraging the largest risk knowledgebase available. The knowledgebase includes industry regulations, best practices and customizable corporate security policies. AlgoSec assigns and tracks a security rating for each device and group of devices to help you to quickly pinpoint devices that require attention and to measure the effectiveness of a security policy over time. FIGURE 4: AlgoSec identifies and prioritizes risky rules based on industry standards and frameworks and provides detailed information of source, destination, service, as well as user and application when analyzing next-generation firewalls. Out-of-the-box compliance reports AlgoSec ensures continuous compliance and instantly provides you with a view of your firewall compliance status by automatically generating reports for industry regulations, including Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), GDPR, Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX), Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (J-SOX, also known as Japan-SOX), North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection (NERC CIP), and International Organization for Standardization (ISO 20071). If the network security policy doesn’t adhere to regulatory or corporate standards, the reports identify the exact rules and devices that cause gaps in compliance. A single report provides visibility into risk and compliance associated with a group of devices. FIGURE 5: PCI DSS firewall compliance report automatically generated by AlgoSec. Schedule a Demo Conclusion Ensuring and proving compliance typically require significant organizational resources and budget. With the growing litany of regulations, the cost and time involved in the audit process is increasing rapidly. Armed with the firewall audit checklist and with the AlgoSec security policy management solution you can: Reduce the time required for an audit — Manual reviews can take a significant amount of time to produce a report for each firewall in the network. AlgoSec aggregates data across a defined group of firewalls and devices for a unified compliance view, doing away with running reports for each device, thereby saving a tremendous amount of time and effort that is wasted on collating individual device reports. AlgoSec enables you to produce a report in minutes, reducing time and effort by as much as 80%. Improve compliance while reducing costs — As the auditor’s time to gather pertinent information and analyze the network security status is reduced, the total cost of the audit decreases substantially. AlgoSec facilitates the remediation of non-compliant items by providing actionable information that further reduces the time to re- establish a compliant state. Schedule a Demo Select a size Ensuring continuous compliance Gather key information prior to starting the audit Review the change management process Audit the firewall’s physical and OS security Cleanup and optimize the rule base Conduct a risk assessment and remediate issues Ongoing audits Automating firewall compliance audits with AlgoSec Conclusion Get the latest insights from the experts Choose a better way to manage your network

Explore best practices for security and compliance in financial institutions, ensuring robust protection and adherence to regulations amid digital transformation. Financial Institutions: Best Practices for Security & Compliance in the Era of Digital Transformation ---- ------- Schedule a Demo Select a size ----- Get the latest insights from the experts Choose a better way to manage your network