{"id":18523,"date":"2025-01-21T09:00:30","date_gmt":"2025-01-21T14:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.firewalls.com\/blog\/?p=18523"},"modified":"2025-11-11T10:49:32","modified_gmt":"2025-11-11T15:49:32","slug":"firewalls-and-network-security","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.firewalls.com\/blog\/firewalls-and-network-security\/","title":{"rendered":"Firewalls and Network Security: 3 Signs It\u2019s Time to Upgrade"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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If you\u2019re experiencing an overall higher demand for your network performance, it might be time to look into your firewalls and network security. This could pertain to many focus areas, with increasing throughput demands and device traffic being a few examples.<\/span><\/p>

On another note, it isn\u2019t uncommon for firewall hardware to go through lifecycles. While one firewall may keep you afloat for roughly 3 to 5 years, it\u2019ll eventually be time to consider an upgrade. You also want to remember the difference between end-of-sale and end-of-life dates, as a firewall model\u2019s exit is usually a staggered process.<\/span><\/p>

Nevertheless, assuming your business is preparing for expansion in the future, it doesn\u2019t hurt to review the current state of your network security. This article will discuss core signs of when it\u2019s time to upgrade your company\u2019s firewalls and network security.<\/span><\/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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Evolving Cyber Security Services\n<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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While there is a broad range of services that play into the whole of cyber security, firewalls are a leading topic. As your business continues to grow, the capabilities of your firewall hardware should be able to match network requirements.<\/span><\/p>

The same sentiment goes toward cloud network security. Whether it\u2019s hardware or software, it doesn\u2019t hurt to consider if it\u2019s time for a change in your firewall solutions.<\/span><\/p>

It\u2019s understandable that this sounds like a challenging decision to go through, as there\u2019s an overwhelming amount of firewall tech on the market. One of the best ways to determine if it\u2019s time for an upgrade is by focusing on the several issues mentioned below.<\/span><\/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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1. End of Life\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Regardless of whether it\u2019s a <\/span>Sophos firewall<\/span><\/a> or another manufacturer’s design, every model will eventually reach its end of life. Even if you stick with a certain model to the very end, you\u2019ll then be forced to upgrade. To avoid any hiccups in your business’s network security, it\u2019s highly beneficial to be a bit more proactive.<\/span><\/p>

Thankfully, manufacturers generally give you years of lead time to figure this out before vendor support comes to a close. Waiting out the end-of-life timeline simply leaves your organization more vulnerable to numerous digital threats.<\/span><\/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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2. Increased Network Demand\n<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As your business continues to grow, it\u2019s pretty much inevitable that your network will start to experience a heavier load. This can include cloud network security integrations on top of hardware, including the need for remote access and a higher number of devices. Not only can a new firewall support all of those points, but it can also help with the following:<\/span><\/p>