Firewall-as-a-Service: 5 Essential Insights for Security Resellers and MSPs

In today's fast-evolving cybersecurity landscape, Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS) has emerged as a critical solution for businesses of all sizes.

All firewalls meticulously screen and monitor traffic entering and leaving an organisation’s network. The firewall’s job is to ensure that only authorised and safe traffic is allowed to enter, while blocking anything suspicious or harmful. Next Generation Firewalls  (NGFW) added the ability to inspect and analyse the payload of packets and act on what they discovered in new or more sophisticated ways. For example, closely controlling individual applications, as well as detecting sophisticated attempts to penetrate your network. FW-as-a-Service (FWaaS) doesn’t add new features to the firewall: rather, it changes the consumption model. For security resellers and Managed Service Providers (MSPs), understanding FWaaS and its implications is essential to meeting the growing demand for advanced security solutions. Here are five key things every security reseller and MSP needs to know about FWaaS.

1. FWaaS Basics

Firewall-as-a-Service is a cloud-based firewall solution that offers the same protections as traditional hardware firewalls but with the added benefits of cloud scalability, flexibility, and centralised management. FWaaS is delivered as a service, meaning businesses can avoid the upfront costs and ongoing maintenance associated with traditional firewall appliances. Instead of managing multiple firewall instances across different locations, businesses can deploy a single, global firewall that provides consistent protection across all users and devices, regardless of location.

For resellers and MSPs, this means a shift from selling and managing physical firewall appliances to offering a more agile, subscription-based service. This model not only simplifies deployment and management for clients but also opens up new revenue streams through ongoing service agreements.

2. The Benefits of Cloud-Based Security

One of the key selling points of FWaaS is its cloud-native architecture. As more businesses move their operations to the cloud, traditional firewall solutions that rely on on-premises hardware are becoming less effective. FWaaS, on the other hand, is designed to protect cloud environments, providing seamless security for cloud-based applications, data, and users.

Cloud-based firewalls offer several advantages, including improved scalability, automatic updates, and real-time threat intelligence. For security resellers and MSPs, these benefits translate into a more attractive proposition for clients who are looking to modernise their security infrastructure. Moreover, the ability to manage security from a centralised dashboard simplifies administration and reduces the complexity of managing multiple security solutions across different environments.

3. Growing Demand for Zero Trust Security

Zero Trust is rapidly becoming the gold standard for cybersecurity, and FWaaS plays a crucial role in this approach. Unlike traditional security models that assume everything inside a network is trustworthy, Zero Trust operates on the principle of "never trust, always verify." FWaaS supports this by providing granular control over network traffic, ensuring that only authenticated and authorised users can access critical resources.

For MSPs and resellers, understanding Zero Trust and how FWaaS can help implement it is critical. Clients are increasingly looking for security solutions that can help them adopt a Zero Trust model, especially as they move more of their operations to the cloud. Offering FWaaS as part of a broader Zero Trust strategy can position resellers and MSPs as trusted advisors who can guide their clients through this transition.

4. Leveraging FWaaS for Multi-Tenant Environments

For MSPs, one of the most significant advantages of FWaaS is its ability to support multi-tenant environments. FWaaS allows MSPs to manage the security of multiple clients from a single platform, with each client having its own isolated environment. This not only simplifies management but also ensures that each client's data and applications are protected according to their specific requirements.

This multi-tenancy capability also enables MSPs to offer tailored security services to different clients, depending on their unique needs. Whether it's providing basic firewall protection for a small business or a more complex security solution for a large enterprise, FWaaS gives MSPs the flexibility to scale their services accordingly.

5. Navigating the Competitive Landscape

The market for FWaaS is becoming increasingly competitive, with a growing number of vendors offering similar services. For resellers and MSPs, differentiating your offering is key to standing out in this crowded market. Partnering with leading FWaaS providers, offering value-added services such as 24/7 monitoring and support, or bundling FWaaS with other security solutions to create a comprehensive and bespoke  security package is a smart way to differentiate.

Exclusive expert FWaaS vendors and support

We work with many of the Gartner Magic Quadrant leaders in the sector, and our partners enjoy an unrivalled ecosystem of support and access to innovative complementary technologies. Training too, so you can stay up-to-date with the latest developments in FWaaS technology and  continuously evaluate and update your offerings to meet the changing needs of your clients. It means you can remain competitive and continue to provide the very best possible security solutions to your clients.

Learn more

These Exclusive vendors are all leaders or challengers in the Gartner FWaaS Magic Quadrant.

• Fortinet
• Palo Alto Networks