Small business firewalls come in a variety of brands, sizes, and options. A firewall is the heart of your cybersecurity infrastructure, so choosing the right appliance to fit your small business will be a task requiring both insight and foresight.
This includes important considerations like ease of use, scalability, feature sets, throughput capabilities, and more. It’s also a good idea to think about the reality of the digital threat landscape for 2025 and the coming years.
With widespread cloud adoption, AI-driven attacks, and expanding remote work environments, modern security solutions are a must. For this article, you’ll get some helpful insight on what small businesses should be looking for when it comes to choosing the right firewall hardware.
Software vs a Hardware Firewall Device
There are two distinct types of firewalls: software and hardware. While virtual software-based firewalls are great at protecting individual users, they become costly and over-complicated when several users are trying to operate on one network.
In this case, network firewall hardware is better suited to the job. From another standpoint, managed services are also an option for businesses that don’t have dedicated security teams or simply prefer third-party support from the experts. For a bit more transparency, the lists below highlight a few realities between software and hardware firewalls.
Software-Based Firewalls:
- Safeguards individual devices
- Offers flexibility and customization for personal endpoint protection
- Can provide protection outside of the main network perimeter
- Ideal for very small teams
- Limited scalability
Hardware Firewalls:
- Protects the entire network by filtering all traffic
- Delivers high throughput capability
- Simplifies centralized management
- Ideal for small to mid-range and enterprise-level organizations
- Highly scalable
If your organization consists of just a few users, software firewalls could be a workable option. However, if your organization is made up of more than 3 or 4 users, a hardware appliance is an obvious improvement over its software counterparts. When it comes to firewall hardware, businesses will always have numerous models to choose from.
Best Firewalls for Small Business Operations
Considering the many small business firewall models on the market, it doesn’t hurt to slim down the options a bit. With top hardware vendors like SonicWall, Sophos, and WatchGuard, growing companies are in good hands with scalable solutions.
Nevertheless, it’s crucial to take a look at what makes each of these vendors and their hardware unique to their own. For the firewall models mentioned in the following sections, each is built to be a stellar option for small business network security.
1. SonicWall TZ480 Firewall
Designed for small organizations as well as remote environments, the SonicWall TZ480 also delivers enterprise-grade protection. It’s powered by SonicWall’s newer Gen 8 tech, which is hailed for its abilities in advanced, modern threat defense.
Some of the top features from this model include intrusion prevention, anti-virus, and anti-malware, to name a few. This also includes zero-touch deployment for a quick and easy setup.
2. Sophos XGS 88 Firewall
Providing advanced network protection, the XGS 88 from Sophos is great for small businesses and branch office operations. Some of the leading features here include TLS 1.3 inspection, deep packet inspection (DPI), and up to 9.9 Gbps of firewall throughput.
Growing businesses will also benefit from its secure and efficient traffic management. Between the throughput, multiple GE copper ports, and threat protection capabilities, the XGS 88 is reliable in more ways than one.
3. WatchGuard M295 Firewall
Built for small to mid-range companies, the WatchGuard M295 delivers strong network protection on multiple fronts. This includes 7.9 Gbps firewall throughput, as well as multiple security suite options through various WatchGuard licenses.
For example, the Basic Security Suite provides essential protection features for core threat defense. With the Total Security Suite, you’re getting enhanced tools for a much more layered security solution.
Assuming you’re looking for the best firewall for small business needs, it’s likely that more than one model will fit the bill. To hone in on what’s truly best for your needs, it’s a combination of assessing the hardware and your operation’s network demands.
Features to Look for in Network Firewall Hardware
The good news is that modern business firewalls go beyond basic traffic filtering or proactive network defense. In the scope of next-gen firewall (NGFW) capabilities, you can expect intrusion prevention, DPI, malware sandboxing, and much more.
Here are a few other features you should look for in an NGFW for small businesses:
- AI-assisted threat detection to identify anomalies and potential attacks in real time
- Cloud and hybrid network integrations for centralized monitoring and unified policy management
- VPN and remote access support for secure connections for remote and hybrid work environments
- Zero trust principles through least privilege access, micro-segmentation, and continuous monitoring and validation
- Scalability for long-term network security support as your business continues to grow
While cybersecurity threats have only become more complex and aggressive, there’s more than enough tech to face this issue. Having the right firewall device is crucial for any growing business. This is especially true for smaller organizations that are more vulnerable or don’t have dedicated IT teams.
Let’s Wrap Up
Choosing the right firewall means aligning technical specifications with your current and future network demands. Sure, this requires a bit of hindsight, but the solutions aren’t hard to find in this day and age.
With reliable vendors, hardware, and the support of next-gen security features, small businesses can put their network security in good hands. It never hurts to work with the experts on this topic, so don’t hesitate to give us a shout to learn more. At Firewalls, we can assist with everything from expertise, hardware suggestions, to professional services for those who need the support.
FAQ
What’s the Difference Between a Software and Hardware Firewall?
Software firewalls are better suited for protecting individual devices, while hardware firewalls provide network-wide protection. This includes benefits like higher throughput, centralized management, better scalability, and a lot more.
Why are Next-Gen Firewalls Important for SMBs in 2025?
NGFWs go far beyond traditional network security, offering features like DPI, intrusion prevention, AI-assisted threat detection, and even cloud integration. However, this only scratches the surface of what NGWFs are capable of.
How Do I Choose the Right Firewall for My Small Business?
Considering your business size, current network demands, and desired features is a good start. From there, it’s important to review vendor reliability. This includes reviewing their products, performance, security, and support for scalability.
