Hacking Humans: Next Generation Firewall (Word Notes) Hosted by N2K Networks | Release Date: October 29, 2024

Overview

In this episode of Hacking Humans, N2K Networks delves into the intricacies of Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs), exploring their evolution, functionality, and the pivotal figures who shaped their development. The discussion provides a comprehensive understanding of how NGFWs have transformed cybersecurity measures, offering enhanced protection against sophisticated cyber threats.

1. Defining the Next Generation Firewall

Rick Howard opens the episode by clarifying the term "Next Generation Firewall." He emphasizes that "next" signifies the forthcoming or evolved version of traditional firewalls. An NGFW is described as a layer 7 security orchestration platform positioned at the boundary between internal workloads, data storage, and untrusted sources. Its primary function is to block incoming and outgoing network traffic based on rules that link applications to authenticated users. This device or software consolidates most traditional security stack functions into a single entity.

Key Features:

• Logical Network Segmentation: Enables security practitioners to segment networks logically.
• Security Policy Orchestration: Applies security policies across various environments, including data centers, office spaces, SaaS applications, and hybrid cloud deployments.
• Deployment Flexibility: Available as both hardware devices and software applications.

2. Historical Evolution of Firewalls

The episode traces the origins of firewalls back to the 1980s at Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) with their Screen D technology. By 1992, Marcus Ranum spearheaded the launch of the Deck Seal commercial product, built upon the open-source Gauntlet firewall. This period marked significant advancements in firewall technology, primarily driven by collaborative efforts rather than solitary innovators.

Notable Developments:

• AT&T Bell Labs (Mid-1990s): Bill Cheswick and Steve Bellevin revolutionized firewall rules by shifting from a default allow-all-inbound approach to a deny-all-by-default stance, enhancing data security.
• Proxy Firewall (1994): Marcus Ranum, along with Wei Hsu and Peter Churchard, introduced the first proxy firewall, capable of blocking traffic based on applications—a foundational feature of NGFWs.

3. Rise of Dominant Firewall Vendors

By the mid-1990s, Check Point emerged as the leading firewall vendor with their stateful inspection firewall. This technology simplified configuration by allowing blocking rules based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols. Near Zook, the lead developer, played a crucial role in this advancement. In 1999, Zook departed Check Point to establish One Secure, focusing on deep packet inspection firewalls—the precursor to NGFWs. One Secure was later acquired by Juniper in 2004, and Zook founded Palo Alto Networks in 2005, which released the first NGFW by 2007. This innovation prompted competitors to develop similar technologies, solidifying the NGFW market.

4. Transformation into Security Orchestration Platforms

By 2010, firewall vendors began integrating security stack subscription services into their devices, transitioning NGFWs into comprehensive security orchestration platforms. These platforms offered:

• Stateful Inspection: Monitoring the state of active connections.
• Application Layer Blocking: Controlling traffic based on application-specific criteria.
• Hybrid SaaS Capabilities: Combining on-premises hardware with cloud-based services for enhanced flexibility and scalability.

This evolution allowed NGFWs to replace traditional serialized hardware security stacks, providing a unified solution for intrusion prevention, malware analysis, and other security functions.

5. Current Leaders in the Next Generation Firewall Market

As of 2020, the Gartner Magic Quadrant recognizes several key players in the NGFW space:

• Leaders: Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, and Check Point.
• Challengers: Cisco, Juniper, and Huawei.
• Visionaries: Forcepoint and Sophos.

These companies offer application firewalls supplemented with security stack subscriptions, maintaining their positions through continuous innovation and comprehensive security solutions.

6. Insights from Industry Pioneers

In a noteworthy segment, Marcus Ranum, a seminal figure in firewall development, reflects on his contributions. During an interview with Katie Taylor at Tag Cyber in February 2021, Ranum responds to being dubbed the "grandfather of the firewall." He acknowledges his role with a touch of humility:

Marcus Ranum [05:32]: "Probably everybody who's watching at least knows of you. They should. You're probably most well known for being an inventor of the firewall. I know you grimace a little bit at being called the grandfather of the firewall, but a lot of people think of you that way."

This quote underscores the collaborative nature of technological advancements and Ranum's pivotal role in shaping modern firewall technology.

Conclusion

The episode provides an in-depth exploration of Next Generation Firewalls, highlighting their definition, historical development, key contributors, and current market leaders. By tracing the evolution from early firewall technologies to today's sophisticated NGFWs, listeners gain a comprehensive understanding of how these security platforms safeguard modern digital infrastructures against evolving cyber threats.

Credits:

• Word Notes Written By: Nyla Genoi
• Executive Producer: Peter Kilpie
• Edited By: John Petrick and Rick Howard
• Sound Design & Original Music: Elliot Peltzman

Notable Quotes

• Marcus Ranum [05:32]: "Probably everybody who's watching at least knows of you. They should. You're probably most well known for being an inventor of the firewall. I know you grimace a little bit at being called the grandfather of the firewall, but a lot of people think of you that way."

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, providing valuable information for listeners new and old.