Evolving Network Opera ons
How to Implement Network Automa on Effec vely?
From Basic Setup to Advanced Threat Intelligence
How to Configure Next-Gen Firewalls Effec vely?
Tunji Durodola Founder
Inaneradefinedbyacceleratingdigital
transformation,theconvergenceofidentitysecurity andnetworkinnovationhasbecomemorethanjusta technicalnecessity—itisthebackboneoftrust,agility,and resilienceinourconnectedworld.Aswemovedeeperinto 2025,thestakeshaveneverbeenhigher.Fromcombating sophisticatedcyberthreatstoenablingfrictionlessdigital experiences,thechallenges—andtheopportunities—are immense.
ThisCIOLook’sspecialedition, 10 Visionary Minds Shaping Identity Security & Network Innovation in 2025, celebratesthetrailblazerswhoarenotjustrespondingto today’sdemandsbutredefiningwhat’spossible.These leadersrepresentadiversespectrumofindustriesand roles—fromCTOsandCISOstoresearchersand entrepreneurs—eachcontributingauniqueperspectiveto therapidlyevolvinglandscapeofsecuredigital infrastructure.
Theirworkspanszero-trustarchitecture,AI-driventhreat detection,biometricadvancements,anddecentralized identityframeworks.Moreimportantly,theybringa human-centeredethostotechnology,championingethics, privacy,andinclusivityineverylayerofinnovation.
Asyouexploretheirstories,you’llfindnotjustthe brillianceoftechnicalsolutions,butthepowerofbold visionandrelentlesspursuitofbetter,saferdigitalfutures. Thesetenmindsremindusthatbehindeverysecure connectionisapersondaringtoreimagineit.
Wehopethiseditioninspiresyoutothinkmoredeeply aboutidentityandnetworkintegrity—notasisolated challenges,butasinterconnectedforcesshapingthedigital worldoftomorrow
Happy Reading!
C O V E R S T O R Y
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A R T I C L E S
Evolving Network Opera ons
How to Implement Network Automa on Effec vely?
From Basic Setup to Advanced Threat Intelligence
How to Configure Next-Gen Firewalls Effec vely?
C O N T E N T S
PoojaMBansal Editor-in-Chief
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UrbanIDGlobal urbanid.global
Visionarytechnologistdrivingimpactfuldigitalsolutions throughinnovation,withastrongemphasisonemerging technologiesandtransformativestrategiesacrossdiverse sectors.
Tunji Durodola Founder
From those early days, creativity and technology became central to my aspirations. My vision was to fill the gaps in industries that overlooked the power of digital transformation. Urban ID Global was founded with a mission to revolutionize identity management and provide secure, efficient solutions in a world increasingly reliant on digital systems.
Innovation and resilience are the defining traits of any
successfulentrepreneur. Tunji Durodola, thevisionary Founder of Urban ID Global, has spent decades pushing the boundaries of technology, transforming challengesintoopportunities.Fromcodingonearlyprogrammable calculators in the 1970s to leading advancements in identitymanagement,hisjourneyreflectsarelentlesspursuit of progress. His experiences underscore the power of selfbelief, perseverance, and innovation in navigating an everevolvingindustry.Throughthisconversation,weexplorehis motivations, challenges, and insights into the future of technology
Everyentrepreneurhasauniquejourneymarkedbydefining moments,failures,andtriumphs.Tunji’spathhasbeenshaped byhisabilitytoidentifygapswhereothersseenone,proving that setbacks are merely stepping stones toward greater breakthroughs.Hispassionformentorship,ethicaltechnological advancement, and continuous learning makes him an inspiringfigureintheindustry
While these experiences were initially disappointing, they served as valuable lessons for me. Rather than dwelling on setbacks, I redirected my focus towards identity management—an area where his innovations have since flourished.
Everyfounderhasadefiningmomentthatsetsthemontheir path.ForTunji,thejourneybeganwithaninnatepassionfor innovation. As an "ideas man," he started coding in high school in the 1970s, experimenting with the Casio FX1, the PsionOrganizerIIandtheSinclairCambridgeProgrammable between 1977 and 1989. “From those early days, creativity and technology became central to my aspirations. My vision was to fill the gaps in industries that overlooked the power of digital transformation. Urban ID Global was later founded with a mission to revolutionize identity management and provide secure, efficient solutions in a world increasingly reliantondigitalsystems.”
Buildingacompanycomeswithinevitableobstacles,andfor Tunji, one of the toughest challenges was entering markets dominatedbyindustrygiants.Asanunderdog,heoftenfound himselfunderestimated.However,adefiningmomentin1993 reshapedhisperspectivewhenheheardapowerfulstatement about self-belief. From then on, he adopted a mindset that thrived on proving naysayers wrong. One of his guiding phrases became, “It’s unrealistic”—a challenge he gladly acceptedasfuelforinnovation.
Innovationdemandstheabilitytorecognizeopportunities whereothersseenone.Tunjifirmlybelievesthatthekeyto stayingaheadintechnologyistochallengethestatusquo. Heviewsrejectionasnothingmorethanarearrangementof letters. “NO simply means that failure is "Not Optional." My approach involves constantly identifying gaps in the market and transforming them into opportunities. Whether
it’s through blockchain, artificial intelligence, or the next big leap,Iremaincommittedtostayingaheadofthecurve.”
Asaleader,Tunjiprioritizesmentorshipandmotivation, especiallyamongyoungprofessionals.Heunderstandsthat talentthrivesinanenvironmentwhereindividualsare empoweredtobelieveintheirabilities.Byrecognizing strengthsandharnessingpotential,hecultivatesacultureof innovationandresilience.Hisleadershipstyleisbuilton encouragement,ensuringthathisteamremainsdriven, adaptable,andpreparedtotacklecomplexchallengesinthe ever-changingtechnologicallandscape.
Withrapidtechnologicaladvancementsshapingindustries, Tunjiremainskeenlyawareofthebiggesttrendsdriving change.Afewyearsago,blockchaindominatedthe conversation,buttoday,artificialintelligenceisatthe forefront.Whilethesetechnologiescontinuetoevolve,he
believesthatthenextrevolutionaryshiftwillbetheriseof quantumcomputing.Althoughitisstillinitsearlystages, heanticipatesitsimpactwillbeprofoundand,attimes, evendaunting.UrbanIDGlobalisstrategicallypositioning itselftoembracetheseadvancementswhileensuringthat ethicalconsiderationsremaincentraltotechnological progress.
Everyentrepreneurencounterssetbacks,andTunji’s journeyisnoexception.Onesignificantexperience involvedthedevelopmentofanapplicationthat,in hindsight,couldhavebeenanearlyformofsocialmedia. However,timingprovedtobeacriticalfactor.Justtwo weeksafterlaunching,WhatsAppenteredthemarket, reshapingdigitalcommunication.Similarly,histeam developedapushemailsolutionforSymbianphoneusers, onlytobeovershadowedbyResearchinMotion’sdominancewithBlackBerry “While these experiences were initially disappointing, they served as valuable lessons for me. Rather than dwelling on setbacks, I redirected my focus towards identity management—an area where my innovations have since flourished.”
Withgreatinnovationcomesgreatresponsibility Tunji recognizestheethicalchallengesthataccompanytechnologicaladvancements,particularlyintherealmofdata privacy.Whileprofitabilityisacrucialaspectofany business,hefirmlybelievesthatitshouldnevercomeatthe costofethicalintegrity.Inanerawherepersonaldatais highlyvulnerable,hisapproachprioritizessecurity, transparency,andresponsibleinnovation.Hechallengesthe prevailingnotionthatgreedmustdrivetechnological growth,advocatinginsteadforabalancebetweenprogress andethicalaccountability
Forthoselookingtofollowinhisfootsteps,Tunjiemphasizesthreecoreprinciples:endurance,perseverance,and adaptability.Headvisesaspiringentrepreneurs, “Focus on true innovation rather than replicating existing solutions. By carving out a unique niche, you can create your own paths and push beyond conventional limitations. Success is not about conforming to trends but about pioneering new directions and solving problems in unprecedented ways.”
Music is another integral part of my life. An avid audiophile since high school, I had an appreciation for instrumental and electronic music, with artists like Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Schiller among my favorites.
Beyondwork,Tunjifindsinspirationinhistory,music,and personalreflection.Heisdeeplyfascinatedbyworldevents andtheriseandfallofgreatempires,particularlythe RomanEmpire.Studyinghistoricalsuccessesandfailures provideshimwithvaluableinsightsintoleadershipand strategicthinking.
“Music is another integral part of my life. An avid audiophile since high school, I had an appreciation for instrumental and electronic music, with artists like Tangerine Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre, and Schiller among my favorites.” Whenseekingmomentsofintrospectionand meditation,heturnstoclassicalmusic,allowingitto providebalanceandclarityamidstthedemandsofinnovationandleadership.
Tunji’sjourneyexemplifiesthepowerofresilience, creativity,andstrategicforesight.Fromhisearlypassionfor codingtoleadinggroundbreakinginnovationsinidentity management,hehasremainedsteadfastinhispursuitof progress.Hisstoryisatestamenttothefactthatsuccessis notsolelydefinedbyachievementsbutalsobythelessons learnedfromfailure.Astechnologycontinuestoevolve, Tunji’svisionforUrbanIDGlobalremainsfirmlyrootedin ethicalinnovation,mentorship,andtherelentlesspursuitof excellence.
Identitymanagementhasbecomeacriticalcomponentof digitalsecurity,enablingseamlessauthenticationandfraud prevention.AsthefounderofUrbanIDGlobal,Tunji
understandstheevolvingthreatsandtheneedforrobust solutions.Hisworkemphasizesthebalancebetween convenienceandprivacy,ensuringthattechnological advancementsalignwithethicaldataprotectionpractices.
Inaworldwherecyberthreatsareincreasinglysophisticated,identitymanagementmustbeproactiveratherthan reactive.Tunjiadvocatesforinnovativeapproachesthat integrateAI,blockchain,andbiometricstoenhancesecurity whilemaintainingusertrust.Hisvisionistobuildafuture whereidentityremainsuncompromised.
Tunjicumulatestwodecadesofexperienceintrusted identitymanagement,cryptography,systemdesign,and electronicpayments.Hisinternationalstandardscontributionsandleadershipinpioneeringprojectsareforgingthe futureofdigitalidentitysolutionsthroughouttheworld. HereisabriefviewofTunji’sachievements,hiscontributions,andhisvariousinitiatives:
• Extensiveexperienceintheimplementationof NationalPublicKeyInfrastructures(PKIs)across AfricaandconsultancyforeIDAS-compliantPKIsin Europe.
• ProficientinCertificateLifecycleManagement, CSCA&DSCintegration,andensuringICAOVDS 2.0compliance.
• In-depthexpertisewithOCSPresponders,CRLs, SmartcardpersonalizationusingAPDUscripting, andHSMintegration(Utimaco,YubiHSM).
• Overadecadeofhands-onexperienceintegrating ICAO-compliantbiometricpassportsandnational IDcardsystems.
• Developedsoftwareandmiddlewarestacksfor PassportandIDCardissuance,includingintegration ofMRZ,RFID,andbiometricdata
• InventorofapatentedUserConsent&Identity Tokenizationarchitectureforanonymized,revocable identityissuance.
• DevelopedtheMasterCode/Top-LevelCredential System,whichenablesAI-drivenfrauddetectionand supportspseudonymousidentitymanagement.
GVCP,PCDSS&PaymentsSecurity
• IntegratedMasterCard’sGovernment-to-Citizen PaymentsystemforsecureePaymentslinkedto NationalID AlsosupervisedannualGVCPcomplianceaudits.
• Designedaninteroperabilitylayerbetweendigital walletsandcentralbankstoensureseamlesspayment processinganddigitalidentityverification.
System Integration & Architecture
• ConsultantforNationalID&CivilRegistrySystems inseveralcountries,assistinginbuildingandenhancinglarge-scale,securenationalidentityinfrastructures.
• Expertiseindesigninghigh-performancecomputing environmentsutilizingPostgreSQpoweredand optimizedbyNVIDIAGPUsfordata-intensive applications.
• ArchitectofVault-basedsecretsmanagement, Consulservicemesh,andHAProxyloadbalancing forsecureandscalabledistributedsystems.
Contributions to International Organizations
• ActiveTechnicalWorkingGroupLeadswiththe SecureIdentityAlliance(SIA)
• ContributortoOSIA(OpenStandardsIdentityAPI) andotherglobalidentitystandardstoenhance interoperabilityandsecurityindigitalidentityecosystems.
Speaking Engagements at Conferences
• Denmark–INTERGRAF
• Singapore–Fintech&DigitalIdentityWorkshopsand SecureDocumentWorld
• France–Trustech/CartesSecureConnexions
• UAE–GITEX,DigitalIDForums
• Germany–eIDStandardsSummitsinMunich,Berlin, andGelsenkirchen
• Latvia–X-InfotechIdentitySymposiumsinRigaand Jurmala
• Nigeria–NIMCRoadshowsandNationalIDAwarenessForums
Software Development & Technical Stack
• ExpertiseinNodeJS,PERL,Python,andBASH scriptingforbuildingsecure,scalablesolutions.
• ExtensiveexperiencewithPostgreSQL,Percona MySQL,DSECassandra,andMinIOforsecure objectstorageandhigh-performancedatabases.
• ProficientindeploymentonRaspberryPiclustersand bare-metalGPU-poweredsystemsforoptimized performance.
• Knowledgeableincryptographicstandardsincluding RSA4096,andemergingPost-QuantumAlgorithms suchasKyberandDilithium.
• Expertiseininteroperabilityprotocolslike DIDComm,OIDC4VC,OpenIDConnect,eIDAS, andICAOLDSforseamlessandsecuredigital identitymanagement.
Current Projects & Initiatives
• Leadingthedevelopmentofasecurecredential issuanceanddigitalprivacyplatformfortheEU MarketthroughpocketOneOÜ(Estonia)
• ServingastheChairoftheUINTokenization WorkingGroupattheSIA,focusingondefining anonymizedidentitystandardsfordigitalinteractions
• IntegratingAIintoDigitalIdentityresearchby utilizingGPUsandsyntheticdatasetstoidentify fraudandvalidateidentitylinkageforR&Dpurpose
Successinentrepreneurshipisnotjustabouthavinggreat ideas;it’saboutexecution,adaptability,andresilience. Tunji’sjourneyisatestamenttothisprinciple.Hebelieves thatfailureisanaturalpartofinnovation,servingasa steppingstonetobreakthroughs.Hisexperiencenavigating competitiveindustries,overcomingskepticism,and pioneeringnewsolutionshighlightstheimportanceof perseverance.
Foraspiringentrepreneurs,Tunjiemphasizestheneedto thinkbeyondconventionalmodels,challengelimitations, andfocusonoriginality.Byfosteringamindsetofcontinuouslearningandcalculatedrisk-taking,heinspiresthenext generationtocarvetheirownuniquepathsinbusiness.
Asmodernnetworksgrowincomplexityandscale,
traditionalmanualmanagementapproachesareno longersufficienttomeetthedemandsofagility, reliability,andoperationalefficiency.Networkautomation hasemergedasacriticalstrategyfororganizationsaiming tostreamlineoperations,reducehumanerror,andimprove consistencyacrossdistributedinfrastructures.By automatingroutinetasksandenablingfasterprovisioning, organizationscannotonlyrespondmorerapidlytobusiness needsbutalsoenhancenetworksecurityandperformance.
This article highlights the key components of implementing network automation effectively, including strategy development, tool selection, workflow design, testing, and fostering organizational readiness, to help IT leaders navigate their automation journey with confidence.
LayingtheFoundationwithaStrategicPlan
Awell-executednetworkautomationinitiativebeginswith aclearandcomprehensivestrategy Thisinvolvesassessing thecurrentnetworkinfrastructure,pinpointingareaswhere automationcandriveimprovement,andsettingachievable objectives.Bythoroughlyanalyzingexistingworkflowsand identifyinginefficiencies,organizationscanprioritize automationeffortsthatofferthegreatestimmediateimpact andreturnoninvestment.
Simultaneously,itisessentialtoconductadetailedauditof allnetworkdevices,platforms,andcommunication protocolstoensuretheyarecompatiblewithselected automationtools.EvaluatingthetechnicalproficiencyofIT staffisequallyimportant,asgapsinskillsmaynecessitate targetedtrainingorthecreationofnewroles.Moreover,
Evolving Network Opera ons
effectivechangemanagementiscriticalsecuring stakeholderbuy-inandcultivatingaculturethatembraces automationarekeyfactorsinensuringthelong-term sustainabilityandsuccessoftheinitiative.
Choosingtherightautomationtoolsisapivotalfactorin determiningtheoverallsuccessofanetworkautomation initiative.Open-sourcesolutionslikeAnsible,Puppet,and Python-basedlibrariessuchasNetmikoandNAPALMare widelyadoptedfortheirflexibility,extensibility,andstrong communitybacking.Fororganizationswithmorecomplex requirements,enterprise-gradeplatformslikeCiscoDNA Center,Juniper’sContrail,orVMware’sNSXoffer comprehensivecapabilities,althoughtheytypicallycome withahigherinvestment.
Whenevaluatingautomationtools,organizationsshould considerfactorssuchasscalability,easeofintegration, compatibilitywithexistingsystems,andtheavailabilityof communityorvendorsupport.Selectingtoolsthatalign withmodernnetworkingpractices—suchasintent-based networkingandinfrastructureascode—isespecially beneficial.Theseapproachesenablegreaterconsistency, facilitaterepeatabledeployments,andimproveversion control,allofwhichcontributetoamoreresilientand manageablenetworkenvironment.
Oncetheappropriatetoolshavebeenselected,thefocus shouldshifttodesigningandimplementingstandardized automationworkflows.Itisadvisabletostartwithlow-risk, high-impacttaskssuchasconfigurationbackups,software updates,andnetworkstatusmonitoring.Asconfidenceand experiencewithautomationgrow,morecomplexoperations likedynamicroutingadjustments,loadbalancing,andthe enforcementofsecuritypoliciescanbeintroduced incrementallytominimizedisruptionandmaintainstability.
Toensureconsistencyandcontrol,automationscripts shouldbemodularandreusable,withallchangestracked throughversioncontrolsystemslikeGit.Incorporating orchestrationtoolssuchasJenkinsorGitLabCI/CDallows fortheautomationofdeploymentpipelines,includingbuiltintestingstagestovalidatechangesbeforetheyareapplied toliveenvironments.Throughouttheentireautomation lifecycle,robustsecuritymeasuresmustbeupheld.Every automatedchangeshouldbeauditable,withclearlydefined accesscontrolsandrollbackproceduresinplacetoaddress
potentialfailures.Ratherthancircumventingsecurity protocols,automationshouldbeusedtoembedandenforce them,ensuringcomplianceismaintainedacrossallnetwork activities.
Whiletechnicaltoolsandprocessesformthefoundationof networkautomation,thehumanelementisequallycritical toitssuccess.AdoptingaDevOpsorNetDevOpsmindsetis essential,asitpromotesacultureofcollaboration, continuousimprovement,andinnovationwithinnetwork teams.Providingaccesstotrainingprogramsand professionalcertificationshelpsensurethatengineers possesstheskillsrequiredtoeffectivelydesign,deploy,and manageautomationframeworks.
Fosteringanenvironmentthatvaluesknowledgesharing throughinternalworkshops,comprehensivedocumentation, andcross-functionalengagementstrengthensorganizational readinessandencouragescollectiveproblem-solving. Executive-levelsponsorshipfurtherreinforcestheseefforts byaligningautomationinitiativeswithstrategicbusiness goals,securingresources,anddrivinglong-term commitmentacrosstheorganization.
Implementingnetworkautomationisatransformativestep thatenablesorganizationstooptimizeoperations,increase efficiency,andenhancethereliabilityoftheirnetwork infrastructure.Bylayingastrongstrategicfoundation, selectingtherighttools,anddevelopingrobustworkflows, businessescansystematicallyreducemanualerrorsand improveoperationalagility.Equallyimportantisthe commitmenttocontinuoustesting,monitoring,and improvementtoensuretheautomationframeworkremains responsivetoevolvingnetworkdemands.Ultimately,the successofnetworkautomationhingesnotonlyon technologybutalsoonpeople.Cultivatingtheright mindset,upskillingteams,andaligninginitiativeswith organizationalgoalsarecrucialfordrivinglong-term value.
Inanerawherethecyberattacksarechangingminute
byminute,organizationscannolongercounton traditionalsecuritydevicestoprotecttheirnetworks. Thesophisticationofcontemporarycyberattacksrequires moreintelligentandproactiveprotection.That'swhere Next-GenFirewalls(NGFWs)comeintoplay.These advancedsecuritydevicesgobeyondbasicportand protocolblockingtodeliverdeeppacketinspection, intrusionprevention,applicationawareness,andreal-time threatintelligencefromasingleplatform.
ButtherealstrengthofNGFWsistheconfigurationin whichtheyarerun.Apoorlyconfiguredfirewallisasrisky asrunningnofirewallatall.Toenableorganizationstotake maximumbenefitfromtheirsecurityinvestment,here'sa hands-onguideonhowtoproperlyconfigureNext-Gen Firewalls.
Takethetimetounderstandyournetworkinfrastructure beforeyouevenstepnearanyfirewallsettings.Findout whatdevicesareonthenetwork,whatprogramsarebeing used,andhowdatatravelsbetweentheinternalandexternal networks.Havingagoodgraspofyourenvironmentis crucialbecauseNGFWsoperatewithcontextualawareness. Withoutthebackgroundknowledgeofyourenvironment, youcanendupblockingvaluableservicesorworse, introducingsecurityvulnerabilitiesthattheattackerscan exploit.
AsolidsecuritypolicyisthefoundationofeffectiveNGFW configuration.UnlikedependingonbasicIPandport blockingliketraditionalfirewalls,Next-Generation Firewallsallowyoutodefinepoliciesbasedonusers,roles,
andapplications.Thisletsyoucustomizeaccessrulesfor differentdepartments,jobfunctions,orevencertainusers.
Forexample,marketinggroupswillneedaccesstosocial mediaplatforms,yetthefinancedepartmentwillonlyneed limitedaccesstoapprovedsites.NGFWsgiveyouthislevel ofprecisionsoyoucanapplya"leastprivilege"approach thatreducesriskwithouthinderingproductivity
Thefoundationofyourrulesetmustbeadefault-deny philosophy—onlyapprovedandtrustedtrafficisallowed. Then,graduallylayerinpoliciesontopofthatasdrivenby operationalneedandbusinessfunction.
Contrarytopreviousfirewallsthatemployportsand protocolssolelytoseetraffic,NGFWscanseetheparticular applicationsandcontrolthem.Thisaspectisnecessaryin
anagewheremanyservicesemploysimilarportsinabidto bypasspreviousfirewalls.
Withvisibilityofappusage,youcanlimitbandwidthfor non-businessappslikevideostreamingorpeer-to-peerfile transferandallocatehighpriorityforbusiness-criticalapps likeMicrosoftTeamsorZoom.Astheusagepatternis monitoredovertime,youwillevenfindinsightstonetwork usageandmakesmarterdecisionsaboutaccessandpolicy optimization.
OneofNext-GenerationFirewalls'definingfeaturesisan embeddedIntrusionPreventionSystem(IPS).IPS,if properlyconfigured,canidentifyandblockknown vulnerabilities,malware,andattemptsatexploitation.
It'swisetoinitiallyrunIPSin"alert-only"modetoobserve itsbehaviorinyournetwork.Onceyouaresureofits accuracy,letitrunin"block"modetoautomaticallyblock malicioustraffic.Don'tforgetthatthreatsignaturesand detectionengineshavetobeupdatedperiodicallytoremain aheadofthenewthreatssurfacing.
Next-GenFirewallsmayalsobecombinedwiththird-party threatintelligencefeedstoenhancetheirdetectionfeatures. ThesefeedsarecontinuallyupdatedwithnastyIPs,URLs, malwarehashes,andzero-dayexploits.YourNGFWisa dynamicdefensesystemwhenit'spluggedintoalivethreat database—it'slearningandevolvingonacontinuousbasis tothenewestattackvectors.
Thisintegrationshouldbeconfiguredtoautomatically responduponthreatdetection,say,byblockingtrafficfrom suspiciousIPaddressesorquarantiningcompromised endpoints.Suchautomationsignificantlyreducesresponse timeincaseofapossiblebreach.
Configurationisnotaone-timeprocess,it'scontinuous, requiringongoingmonitoringandtuning.Facilitateindepthloggingtorecordfirewallactivityandutilize centralizedmonitoringtoolstocorrelateeventsthroughout yournetwork.
Scheduledauditsaresupposedtobeconductedtoverify whichpoliciesareactive,iftheyarestillactive,and whethertheyneedchangesbecauseofnetworkoruser configuration.Completevisibilityisnotonlyimproving security,butitguaranteescompliancewithinternalaswell asexternalregulations.
Evenminorconfigurationchangescanhaveunforeseen consequences.Testyourfirewallpoliciesthoroughlyina safeenvironmentbeforerollingthemoutintoproduction.If thereisnotestenvironment,planchangesduringoff-hours andhavearollbackstrategy.
Testingalsoinvolvesregularpenetrationtestingand vulnerabilityscanningtomakesurethefirewallisgiving thelevelofprotectionthatisanticipated.
Finally,regardlessofhowstrongyourNext-GenFirewall is,it'sonlyasgoodasthehumansthatarerunningit.Spend moneyonyourITandsecuritystafftotrainthem.Don'tjust teachthemhowtousethefirewall,butalsohowtoadjust thesettingstokeeppacewithchangingthreatsandbusiness requirements.
Sellersusuallyprovidecertifications,webinars,and knowledgebases—makeuseofthese.Empoweredteams canmakedecisionsmorequicklyandsidestepexpensive mistakes.
Next-GenFirewallsarenotjustaboutcheckingboxes,it's aboutstrategic,ongoingalignmentbetweenyournetwork architecture,businessgoals,andtheconstantlyevolving threatlandscape.Donecorrectly,NGFWsbecomea foundationformoderncybersecurity—providingnotjust protection,butconfidence.
Byinvestingthetimetounderstandyournetwork, implementingsolidpolicies,andmaximizingthemore advancedfeaturesofyourNGFW,youcanbuildarobust, securesecurityposturethatwilllast.
