Cyber security is all about mitigating the network security risks introduced by hackers. When security devices, such as a firewalls, lack the attention they need, they become unpatched and severely weakened. For an IT leader, you may experience a healthy amount of paranoia around the health of the firewalls. That is why an annual security device health check (or audit) is often recommended.
A security device health check validates the strength and configuration of your firewall.
Here are some benefits when considering a firewall health check
Preventing costly cyber attacks
When cyber attacks are successful – a finger is always pointed. Always. Reduce the chance of a pointed finger at you through regimented security devices health check. As network environments have become more complex, one oversight to a firewall could expose your business to a cyber attack. It’s the equivalent of building a mansion, yet leaving a window unlocked. The bad guys are good at finding those openings, and the results are never positive.
Exposes performance issues that are difficult to pinpoint
Symptoms of networks not performing effectively aren’t always evident in daily IT operations. We spend hours sorting through logs, error files, and false positives to troubleshoot. Often, a security device audit will tell you if that device is (or is not) the culprit in your performance issues. A proper health check looks at the benchmarked metrics, giving you a report to identify if the device is performing as intended (or being overworked).
Can expose additional functionality that you missed
Manufacturers release patches to secure vulnerabilities and introduce new features. Security device health checks will introduce device functionality you can take advantage of. This may be in the form of reporting, interface enhancement, or alerting.
Validate your 2019 budget requests
Company leadership always wants justification for spending across all departments. Device health checks provide visibility into the ones that are at capacity, if they are end-of-life, and allow you to predict budget better. With the final report in hand, you have the power to accurately budget.
Increase your confidence during stormy weather
By performing your security device health check, you’ll gain confidence that your devices meet requirements. Add to that the recommendations that are provided to you in the report, and you’ll further fortify your network from bad actors. So the next time a major breach happens in the news, you know that across the board, your security devices are doing their job.
As you plan for 2019 and where you should focus your budget spend – a device health check may be a good starting point to assist in your decision-making.