Choosing the correct firewall is essential for protecting your business from cyber threats. With more cloud applications, remote staff, and hybrid work arrangements, SMEs require stronger and more intelligent network protection in 2026.
Here is a simple guide to choosing the right firewall for your business.
1. Understand your business size and traffic
Small offices with fewer than 10 staff require different capacity compared to larger offices with heavy cloud usage.
Consider:
- Number of users
- Types of applications
- Video conferencing load
- Cloud storage sync
This helps determine the performance level required.
2. Choose a firewall with strong threat protection
Modern firewalls should include:
- Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)
- Malware filtering
- Application control
- Content filtering
- Anti-phishing
- Encrypted traffic inspection
These features protect against modern attacks.
3. Ensure SSL inspection is available
Most threats hide inside encrypted traffic.
A firewall must be able to scan SSL traffic without affecting performance.
This is essential for preventing malware, ransomware, and unsafe downloads.
4. Cloud-managed or on-premise?
Cloud-managed firewalls offer:
- Centralised visibility
- Remote configuration
- Automatic updates
- Easy troubleshooting
This is suitable for SMEs without dedicated IT teams.
5. Consider long-term subscription costs
Firewalls require licenses for:
- Security filtering
- Threat intelligence
- VPN
- Cloud management
Choose a model with transparent, predictable licensing that fits your budget.
Conclusion
Selecting the right firewall ensures strong protection for your business data and operations. A proper solution will secure your network, support remote work, and prevent costly incidents.