Firewall analysis is necessary for proper network security control configuration management. Over time, firewall security policies and rulesets can become outdated, unnecessary, or inconsistent. Firewall analyzers or security policy analysis tools, generate audit reports to help enterprises support troubleshooting and ensure that security policies are up to date and enforced consistently across their on-premises and cloud network. While this process can be done manually, it is time-consuming and susceptible to human error, driving many organizations to look for automated firewall analyzer solutions that can remotely correct and configure network security controls from a single network connectivity management interface.

Firewall management tools, or network security policy management solutions, are more comprehensive cybersecurity solutions that help organizations centralize the management of network and cloud connectivity to ensure compliance with enterprise network security policies. These solutions centralize segmentation planning and management, monitor for violations across on-premises and cloud devices and automate network access changes. They also provide real-time visibility into firewall policy violations and generate customizable audit reports. Ensuring network and cloud connectivity is in compliance with security policies is critical to ensuring that endpoints, data and applications remain secure.

Beyond automation, enterprises should look for a firewall analyzer that supports multi-vendor firewall devices, including next-generation firewalls (e.g., Cisco, Fortinet, Juniper, Palo Alto Networks, Check Point, SonicWall), as well as multiple cloud providers (e.g. AWS and Azure). It should provide real-time reports of policy violations, including reports that demonstrate compliance with critical regulations and standards, such as PCI-DSS, HIPAA and GDPR. Mre advanced security policy automation solutions, like Tufin, enable api integration with vulnerability scanners to help teams prioritize vulnerabilities, further reducing the risk of cyberattacks.