Traditional firewalls struggle to keep pace with today's network demands, particularly because 95% of traffic is now encrypted. They were designed for a static environment, making it difficult for them to decrypt and inspect this traffic without affecting performance and user experience. Additionally, they cannot adequately support the complexities of hybrid IT architectures that involve multi-cloud environments and remote workers.

Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) offer integrated threat protection that includes capabilities such as advanced intrusion prevention systems and anti-malware. They enable organizations to manage all aspects of security from a centralized interface, facilitating better coordination and quicker threat responses. This integration simplifies operations and enhances visibility, ensuring that security is robust across all network segments.

Scalability is crucial for firewalls as modern data centers require rapid data processing and transaction speeds. Most traditional firewalls are at capacity and cannot adjust to growing business demands. NGFWs, however, are designed to deliver effective security without compromising performance, allowing organizations to handle increasing traffic efficiently while safeguarding their networks from high-speed attacks.