What distinguishes a Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) from traditional firewalls?

The distinguishing feature of a Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) is its ability to perform Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). This advanced capability allows the firewall to inspect the contents of data packets beyond just their headers, enabling it to analyze the actual data being transmitted. As a result, it can identify and block sophisticated threats such as malware and application-layer attacks that traditional firewalls, which mainly focus on packet filtering and basic Layer 3/Layer 4 controls, may not detect.

Additionally, NGFWs incorporate additional features such as intrusion prevention systems (IPS), application awareness, and control, and the ability to integrate with other security services. These functionalities collectively enhance the security posture of an organization by providing a more granular level of monitoring and management of network traffic.

In contrast, traditional firewalls primarily rely on rules and policies based on IP addresses, port numbers, and protocols. They do not offer the same level of insight into the applications and users that are generating the traffic, making them less effective against modern, complex threats.