Firewall security has been a part of the healthcare industry for years, but what is the best firewall for a healthcare office or hospital? The network security tech can last for years, but it needs to be effective for modern-day cybersecurity threats.
There is a long list of factors that play into hospital security as an essential component of protecting highly sensitive data. Between HIPAA compliance and must-have support for high-traffic areas and uninterrupted data access, firewalls are a necessity more than anything.
From a patient to an employee perspective, it’s important to have the right firewall specs to cover your network security needs. This article will highlight a few manufacturers that’ll guide you to the best firewall solutions for this industry.
The Important Role of Firewalls in Healthcare
Almost anyone would agree that data protection is vital in healthcare, but few realize the extent of what that requires. Many aspects play into healthcare security, but firewalls are a pretty large component.
A few ways that firewalls assist with network security in healthcare include:
- Supporting the needs of consistently high network traffic
- Overall data protection from unauthorized access
- Ensuring compliance with data regulations in healthcare
- Minimizes downtime in the network
- Capabilities in VPN and redundancy measures help to maintain network stability
It’s important to realize that firewalls are far more important than just providing surface-level network security. They’re comprehensive solutions for small to larger enterprise networks that demand flexible and scalable technology.
If you’re new to firewall tech, you’re likely to be a bit overwhelmed if you don’t know what’s best for your organization’s needs. When it comes to the size and active nature of the healthcare industry, sizable firewall solutions should be a top consideration.
What to Look for in Firewall Technology
Not every firewall model can meet the needs of sizable operations such as a hospital. That’s why looking for features like high throughput, low latency, and overall advanced threat protection is so important.
Details like real-time monitoring, deep packet inspection, and anti-malware are a must-have as well. For the most part, it isn’t hard to source firewall solutions, but it can be challenging to find the right choice. Not only should you consider the current needs of your network, but also what it may become in the future.
In the realm of healthcare networks, scalability includes focusing on network security features as well as infrastructure. Considering the topic can get relatively technical, it can help to stick to industry favorites, such as SonicWall and FortiGate firewall tech.
Leading Firewall Recommendations
With a quick look, you’ll find a long list of SonicWall and FortiGate firewall options to choose from. One might argue that there are too many to choose from, but a lot of the important details can be summarized for a more streamlined overview. The short version is that the SonicWall NSa 6700 and FortiGate 1100E are more than enough for many healthcare organizations.
1. SonicWall NSa 6700
Taking a look at the SonicWall NSa 6700, you’re promised an array of network security benefits that are built for enterprise-level operations. For a quick reference, this refers to sizable features such as extensive firewall inspection and threat prevention throughput.
Other important specifications about the SonicWall NSa 6700 include:
- 36 Gbps firewall throughput
- 19 Gbps threat prevention throughput
- Multiple options for varied high-speed ports
- Benefits from SonicWall’s latest OS7
- 153,000 connections per second
In the scope of advanced threat protection, cloud-based sandboxing and real-time deep memory inspection come with it. Taking all of this into account, in addition to SonicWall’s backend support, healthcare businesses can cover more than base network security requirements.
2. Fortinet FortiGate 1100E
Carrying the promise of deep security integration, the FortiGate 1100E from Fortinet is a force among other firewall options. Meant to support hybrid IT architecture, it also comes with the support of AI and ML-based FortiGuard Services.
Here are a few other areas that can benefit the networks of sizable healthcare operations:
- Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) for automatic user access management
- Utilizes Fortinet’s patented SPU/vSPU processors, promising high throughput
- The unified FortiOS helps you navigate physical, cloud, and virtual environments in security management
- Centralized management system, ease of use, and threat scoring streamline management
Use cases are far and wide with firewall tech, making them an adaptable solution for growing healthcare organizations. Between advanced threat protection, mobile and IoT security, and dynamic network segmentation, the FortiGate 1100E is a powerhouse in network security.
3. Sophos XGS 3300
A mid-range favorite for many organizations, the Sophos XGS 3300 is a lot more impressive than you might expect. It supports up to 750 to 1,000 users at a time and offers long-term security for scaling businesses.
Below are several unique highlights about this Sophos business firewall you should know:
- Streaming DPI engine with web protection and IPS
- Real-time cloud sandboxing
- Zero-day AI and machine learning analysis
- Central-cloud managed orchestration
- Xstream FastPath acceleration of VPN tunnel traffic
While this is just one of many firewalls relevant to the topic of healthcare and security, it’s far from your only option. The XGS 3300 is great, but don’t let that deter you from seeing what else is available in their lineup.
Final Thoughts
You could go through a never-ending list of firewall technologies, or you can get right to the point. Searching for the best firewall for a healthcare office or hospital? The hardware mentioned above is a good start, with plenty of variety to choose from.
Network security tech can feel a little overwhelming to navigate, which is why working with experts on the matter always helps. If you’d like to learn more about firewall solutions for the healthcare space, we have the information, products, and support you’re looking for.
