Symantec Cloud Firewall Service: Enhancing our Leading Cloud-Delivered Secure Web Gateway

Fortinet and Symantec partner to extend advanced protection for all ports and protocols of traffic

More than ever, as our work streams and co-workers become unbound from offices, expanding our breadth of cyber protection has become paramount. That’s the genesis of Symantec Cloud Firewall Service (CFS), now integrated into our industry-leading Symantec Web Security Service. Web Security Service (WSS) which features an advanced proxy architecture that provides lock-down security for an enterprises’ data, apps and users—wherever they go. Cloud Firewall Service is its wingman—fortifying internet security for traffic that doesn’t require a browser such as VoIP, remote access tools, and online gaming.

To build an enterprise-grade cloud firewall, we turned to a best-of-breed partner, Fortinet. They are known for their FortiGate next-generation firewall (NGFW) architecture, featuring deep inspection for identifying attacks, malicious flows, and other threats. Fortinet’s robust firewall was recognized as one of the leaders in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Network Firewalls report in 2019.

Next Generation Now

We believe the time is right for a smart, cloud-native firewall. Symantec Cloud Firewall Service provides real-time and intelligent protection, establishing control of network traffic over all ports and protocols, regardless of where enterprise users are located.

And these days, roaming workers may have diverse protection needs. For example, an IT admin in Chicago needs Secure Shell Protocol (SSH) to log into a Dallas server, while her colleagues in the Marketing team may never need SSH. In other scenarios, CFS can apply policies to inhibit unauthorized access from work devices to undesirable sites. CFS draws from the Fortinet’s database of 3,000 plus applications.

Symantec Cloud Firewall Service provides your team with insight about what’s happening and where. Monitoring data connections is easy with CFS dashboards, and you can generate reports (at no additional cost) that analyze traffic details on the applications you choose, and the protocols you support. Centralized management and reporting roll up into the Symantec Web Security Service online portal.

Symantec Cloud Firewall Service provides real-time and intelligent protection, establishing control of network traffic over all ports and protocols, regardless of where enterprise users are located.

Forming insights enable your team to fine-tune firewall security by customizing policies for specific business needs. You can allow or deny access for authenticated users or groups, set source or destination criteria, or configure policy to block traffic based on any TCP/UDP port.

Cloud Firewall Service also empowers you to update network security tactics as needed. Many organizations still backhaul internet traffic to scan it in their data center—even though it can diminish performance, impact the user experience and drive up cost. Now, with Symantec Cloud Firewall Service, there’s no need to backhaul roaming or branch office traffic to enable protection from advanced threats. If you choose, you can establish a single policy framework that no longer differentiates between roaming users and brand office deployments.

What’s Next?

Given the current circumstance, it’s likely most of us are part of a distributed workforce, working from home offices for an extended period of time. It’s a stark reminder that while cyber security requirements can change, our basic needs do not. Rather than impose centralized firewall access, logic dictates that we enable remote firewall access—regardless of where our teammates are located. Extending coverage to roaming users in addition to those in branch offices enables you to implement a consistent policy framework.

Now with CFS, you can build adaptive trust models that assess business intent, permissions, and track network locations that reduce risk exposure.

Together with Symantec Web Security Service, you have a broad set of capabilities including a Secure Web Gateway, anti-virus scanning, Sandboxing, Web Isolation, CASB controls, Data Loss Prevention and email security. Now with CFS, you can build adaptive trust models that assess business intent, permissions, and track network locations that reduce risk exposure. This provides you with the tools to ensure compliance with all of your organization’s information and web/cloud access policies.

We are here to support you as everyone adapts to changing work conditions in unforeseen circumstances. The addition of the Symantec Cloud Firewall Service solidifies our cloud-delivered Secure Web Gateway (WSS) leadership as a comprehensive, cloud-delivered, network security service. Cloud Firewall Service is globally available now and in WSS data centers. Click here to find out more.