Multi-site businesses come with a handful of unique cybersecurity challenges, with one example being that every location is a potential entry point for threats. Traditional firewall solutions aimed at individual sites aren’t going to cut it here. This, among many other reasons, is why it’s important to consider the best enterprise firewalls for multi-site operations.
Enterprise firewall solutions offer centralized management and unified oversight for security operations across every location. Moreover, this approach supports consistent policy enforcement, faster threat response, and many other benefits. This article highlights several of the best enterprise firewalls, keeping multi-site network demands and scalability in mind.
The Best Enterprise Firewall Solutions for Multi-Location Security
Finding the best firewall solution for multi-location businesses considers more than just having in-house security hardware at every site. Enterprises of this scale need strong protection while maintaining centralized oversight and high traffic across the board. Centralized management makes this possible, but there also needs to be an effective balance with threat prevention, high throughput, and room for scalability.
The good news is that there are plenty of options to choose from, but this can also complicate your decision-making if you aren’t sure of what you’re looking for. The options listed below are all great choices from Firewalls.com and stem from leading manufacturers when it comes to the best firewall hardware you can find.
1. SonicWall NSa 4800
Created with SonicWall’s Gen 8 architecture, the NSa 4800 is an excellent high-performance firewall for enterprise security. It’s designed for much more than just multi-site environments, and it supports between 1,000 and 2,500 users.
Here are a few standout specs about the NSa 4800:
- Firewall Throughput: 20 Gbps
- Threat Prevention Throughput: 13 Gbps
- IPS Throughput: 13 Gbps
- IPsec VPN Throughput: 11 Gbps
- Max Concurrent Connections: 6,000,000
There are also advanced license bundles available, which include things like next-gen threat inspection and a range of layered security features. While the specs mentioned above are just a glimpse into everything the NSa 4800 brings to the table, they showcase what can be expected overall.
2. WatchGuard Firebox M4800
Another firewall option that’s great for distributed enterprise environments, the WatchGuard Firebox M4800 offers total network visibility alongside high performance. Some of the top-level features include high port density, 49.6 Gbps firewall throughput, and Unified Threat Management (UTM).
Below, you can find some relevant specs for more context on what it’s capable of:
- Firewall Throughput: Up to 49.6 Gbps
- IPS Throughput: 8.1 Gbps
- VPN Throughput: Up to 16.4 Gbps
- UTM Throughput: 5.2 Gbps
- Max Concurrent Connections: 15,000,000
More than well-suited for distributed environments, the M4800 won’t disappoint. It’s also a great option for businesses that need space for scalability down the road.
3. Sophos XGS 4300
Although the Sophos XGS 4300 is rated as a mid-range enterprise solution, this doesn’t make it any less viable for branch office and distributed environments. One of the best firewall options for business networks, the XGS 4300 also supports up to 2,500 users across multi-site environments.
Here’s what some of the most important specifications look like:
- Firewall Throughput: 75 Gbps
- Threat Prevention Throughput: 25.2 Gbps
- IPS Throughput: 29.5 Gbps
- IPsec VPN Throughput: 62.5 Gbps
- Max Concurrent Connections: 16,600,000
It’s also important to note that this firewall includes advanced Xstream protection features, which is great for enhanced threat detection. Sophos is another leading provider of enterprise firewall solutions, and the XGS 4300 is just one of many examples.
How to Choose the Best Enterprise Firewalls for Multi-Site Environments
Centralized management should be a focal point in this discussion, regardless of which firewall provider you’re considering. It’s an essential for consistent policy enforcement across all of your locations. This kind of unified oversight reduces overall complexity and helps to minimize the potential risk of misconfiguration.
Aside from this, other important details to think about include high firewall, IPS, and VPN throughput; all of which are critical for multi-site performance. In addition to your current network demands, it’s vital to plan for scalability down the road.
Manufacturers have made this pretty easy with their hardware lineups, but it’s important to keep an eye on end-of-life dates. All in all, advanced security features, coupled with an understanding of your network demands and strong vendor support, are how you end up with the right hardware.
The Final Word
Considering the fact that multi-site businesses face more risk entry points and attack surfaces, centralized management and high-performance security are a must. Between the SonicWall NSa 4800, WatchGuard Firebox M4800, and Sophos XGS 4300, each comes with unique strengths that make them some of the best enterprise firewalls for modern businesses.
Choosing the right firewall will always depend on several factors, with network demand, user count, and scalability being leading examples. At Firewalls.com, we’re always on standby to offer industry expertise on firewall hardware, as well as catering solutions to your specific needs. Take a moment to reach out to us to learn more about these firewall options and hone in on which might be the right pick for your company.
FAQ
What is Centralized Management and Why is it Important for Multi-Site Businesses?
Centralized management gives IT teams what they need to monitor, configure, and enforce firewall policies across every location. This can all be handled in a single interface, helping to guarantee consistent security while reducing the risk of misconfiguration and network threats.
How do I Know Which Enterprise Firewall is Right for My Multi-Site Business?
The best firewall depends on factors like the number of users, VPN demands, traffic volume, and scalability requirements. Moreover, reviewing throughput, threat prevention capabilities, and management features are guiding points for your decision-making.
What Makes the SonicWall NSA 4800 Suitable for Multi-Site Networks?
The NSA 4800 delivers high firewall and TLS/SSL throughput, supports up to 2,500 users, and includes advanced license bundles. It promises next-gen threat protection, making it a great choice for growing distributed enterprises.
Why Consider the WatchGuard Firebox M4800 for Distributed Environments?
The Firebox M4800 offers total network visibility, high firewall and UTM throughput, as well as flexible port density. In addition to that, you get the benefit of dual hot-swappable power supplies, making it an overall ideal choice for companies worried about scalability.
What Advantages Does the Sophos XGS 4300 Promise for Multi-Location Security?
The XGS 4300 supports up to 2,500 users with high firewall and VPN throughput. Moreover, its Xstream protection features improve threat detection, making it another stellar option for distributed environments.
