{"id":13954,"date":"2019-02-18T13:50:31","date_gmt":"2019-02-18T18:50:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firewalls.com\/blog\/?p=13954"},"modified":"2025-12-19T15:54:35","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T20:54:35","slug":"configuration-conundrum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firewalls.com\/blog\/configuration-conundrum\/","title":{"rendered":"The Configuration Conundrum: When Good Businesses Make Bad Choices on Firewall Configuration"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Breaking Down the Common Reasons Why Businesses Skip a Professional Firewall Configuration<\/h3>

At Firewalls.com<\/a> we spend each and every day discussing common network security woes, helping partners craft unique solutions<\/a>, and helping to widen firewall education and expertise for all<\/a>. We\u2019ve heard it all: knee-slapping tales from administrators in sticky situations; never-seen-before security conundrums and, of course, plenty of bad excuses. Any network security engineer worth their salt understands that securing small business networks doesn\u2019t stop at choosing which appliance model<\/a> or services<\/a> to buy. Even the most modern and impressive hardware is no better than a door stop if administrators don\u2019t understand how to configure, deploy, and maintain<\/a> the complex security systems needed to combat 2019\u2019s most advanced threats.<\/p>

Our new video series, which we\u2019ve named the Configuration Conundrum, takes a hard look at some of the less-than-solid reasons why businesses choose to configure their own firewall (or, in most cases, attempt to configure their own firewall) instead of having their advanced security appliances configured by a team of experienced, certified engineers. Over the next few episodes, we\u2019re putting the penny-pinchers, security-gamblers, and \u201cI\u2019ll-get-to-it-later\u201d guys on blast! So hop over to our YouTube channel and join us<\/a> as we dissect the most common reasons why small businesses risk their security (and your confidential data) by opting for sub-par or non-existent firewall configurations.<\/p>

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\u201cI\u2019ve got a guy for that!\u201d Ah, yes. We\u2019ve all got our favorite vaguely-titled \u201cbusiness consultant\u201d or \u201cIT solution grower\u201d to fall back on. Whatever title he claims on his LinkedIn profile, he can run cables, register employee MAC addresses, reconnect the printers, and can maybe fix the coffee pot too.<\/em><\/p>

Is he a security expert? Not specifically.<\/em><\/p>

Does he have network experience? He\u2019s got a little experience in a lot of things.<\/em><\/p>

Does he have certifications, manufacturer training, or industry accolades? No, but he\u2019ll cut you a great deal.<\/em><\/p>

Check out this short video to see what can go wrong when your guy accidentally leaves the door open to ransomware on your network.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Budget constraints. We get it. That\u2019s our go-to excuse when we\u2019re looking to get off a sales call too! As cyber security threats grow more advanced and more dangerous, the once modest IT budget is encroaching further and further up the P&L, eating up OpEx that you were hoping to carry into next quarter.<\/em><\/p>

A good configuration pays for itself. By eliminating unnecessary services, preventing bottlenecks that slow down business-critical resources, and intelligently restricting network traffic to productive activities, a professional firewall configuration ensures that you\u2019re not wasting resources or, worse, rendering your security investment moot by leaving elusive pinholes and blindspots that persistent threats use to worm their way in.<\/em><\/p>

Check out this Budget video to see why prevention is ALWAYS cheaper than remediation.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Some people can\u2019t resist a good puzzle. For the enterprising DIY master a complex firewall configuration seems like tempting sport. Unfortunately, they rarely have the expensive virtual labs needed to stress-test their results with simulated traffic, pre-staged attacks, and benchmarking platforms.<\/em><\/p>

What that means is that their first real attack is a live-fire assessment of how well they did. Like testing out a boat design by shipping out to sea, configuration-hobbyists often find themselves frantically patching holes, bailing water, and holding bulkheads in place as they gradually slip beneath the waves.<\/em><\/p>

60% of small businesses that experience a data breach shutter their doors within 6 months. This video outlines why you should never gamble your life\u2019s work on a weekend project.<\/em><\/p>

How to Ensure a High-Quality, Professional Firewall Configuration<\/h3>

Don\u2019t deploy top-dollar hardware with bottom of the barrel settings. Look behind the curtain of the setup wizard<\/a> and you\u2019ll see that the cyber threats of 2019 can\u2019t be whisked away with a magic wand. If you want to make the very most of your security investment; if you want to take advantage of cutting-edge technologies working in perfectly-integrated harmony<\/a>; if you want personalized solutions with 1-on-1 considerations designed to address your unique needs and demands, you deserve a professional firewall configuration<\/a>.<\/p>

You should seek out a professional services team with an on-site Security Operations Center, a multitude of certifications, and tangible experience earned through on-going education and a rich history of security expertise.<\/p>

Still want to take a crack at DIY? We wish you the best of luck and recommend you check out the Configuration QuickStart Checklist<\/a>.<\/p>

Our configuration checklist guides you through the steps of the configuration process and helps you keep your settings, rules, and hierarchies organized. It\u2019s in-depth and completely free to download<\/strong>!<\/p>