Not sure what your firewall is doing? We will look at it, free, and tell you what we find. Request a review or call (855) 770-9127.
A firewall is only as good as the people managing it
A firewall sits between your network and the internet and decides what gets through. Most small businesses have one. Far fewer have one that was configured for their network, whose rules anyone has looked at since it was installed, or whose firmware is current. An unmanaged firewall gives an attacker exactly what they look for: default settings, forgotten rules and known holes that were never patched.
Managed firewall service means that is somebody’s job.
What managed firewall service includes
Configuration and deployment
Default settings leave gaps that attackers know about. We configure the firewall around your network: which services need to reach the internet, which need to be reached from outside, and nothing else. Unneeded ports are closed from day one.
Monitoring and threat blocking
The firewall’s logs and alerts are watched, so suspicious traffic is noticed and blocked rather than recorded and ignored.
Rule management
Rules pile up. A vendor needed access for a week three years ago; an old server is gone but its opening remains. We review the rule set on a schedule, remove what is no longer needed and tighten what is too broad.
Firmware and security updates
When the manufacturer fixes a vulnerability, we apply the update, at a time that does not interrupt your day, and confirm the firewall came back as expected.
VPN and remote access
People working from home or between sites connect through an encrypted tunnel with their own sign-in, so remote work does not mean an open door.
Reporting and compliance support
You get clear reports of what the firewall is doing and how it is configured. Insurers and auditors ask for exactly this, and it is much easier to hand over than to reconstruct.
Signs your firewall needs attention
- Nobody knows the admin password, or who last logged in.
- It was installed years ago and has not been updated since.
- The manufacturer no longer supports the model.
- Remote staff connect with a shared password, or with remote-desktop open to the internet.
- Your cyber insurance form asks about firewall management and you are not sure what to write.
- The guest WiFi and the office computers are on the same network.
Where it fits
A managed firewall is one layer. It works alongside email security, protection on each computer and staff who know what a phishing message looks like. If you want the whole picture, start with our cybersecurity services; if you want the network and computers looked after as well, see managed IT services.
Who we work with
Our office is in Superior, Wisconsin, and we work on site with businesses across the Twin Ports and northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. A firewall is a physical device in your building, and it helps that the people managing it can also come and stand in front of it.