Top 12 Firewall Audit Software & Integration-Based Comparison in 2024

In the ever-evolving landscape of network security, staying ahead of potential threats is paramount for businesses of all sizes. Firewall audit software plays a crucial role in this domain, offering tools to scrutinize and manage firewall rules, configurations, and the overall security posture. 

This article offers a comprehensive list comparing the top firewall audit tools on the market and a guide to choosing the right solution for your security needs. Also check open source firewall audit tools article.

Comparing the top 12 firewall audit software vendors

This section offers a comparison between the top firewall audit software on the market.

Table 1. Firewall audit software vendors

Table 2. Vendor comparison based on key features

* Based on data from B2B review platforms like G2, Gartner, and TrustRadius

** Based on data from LinkedIn

Inclusion criteria:

• Only vendors with more than 10 total reviews, from all review platforms, were included.
• The table is made by using publically available and verifiable data.
• All vendors selected in this list have 100+ employees
• All vendors offer firewall audit and compliance products along with other network security offerings.
• The companies are ranked based on the total number of reviews except for the sponsored vendor, which is ranked at the top

Key criteria for selecting the right vendor

This section offers criteria that companies can use to find the right firewall audit vendor for their business. As a core feature, all the vendors listed below are integrated with security information and event management (SIEM) platforms. Integration with SIEM solutions enhances the overall security posture by providing timely analysis of security events.

Market presence criteria

1. Number of Reviews

User reviews reflect the experiences and opinions of customers who have used a product or service. The volume of reviews available for a vendor or a particular firewall auditing tool can provide a good view of its user size. Positive reviews can enhance a company’s reputation and attract new customers, while negative reviews may indicate areas for improvement.

2. User Ratings

User ratings provide a quantitative measure of customer satisfaction with a product or service. Higher ratings indicate that users are satisfied with their experience, which can contribute to a positive reputation and increased market presence.

High user ratings, from B2B review platforms like G2 and TrustRadius, often indicate that the tool effectively monitors firewall configurations, ensures firewall performance, and maintains a strong network security posture. User ratings can reflect the tool’s efficiency in firewall security auditing, managing firewall rules compliance, and its ability to provide detailed risk assessments to prevent security incidents.

3. Number of employees

The size of a company’s workforce can indicate its financial stability, capacity for innovation, and ability to serve customers effectively. Larger companies often have more resources to invest in research and development, customer support, and marketing, which can contribute to their market presence. In network security, where specific support for firewall configurations, rule auditing, and network traffic monitoring is vital, the company’s size matters.

Features & integrations

One of the fundamental aspects to evaluate when selecting a firewall audit software vendor is the extent of integration it offers with other crucial cybersecurity and IT management systems. A comprehensive integration set ensures seamless interoperability and enhances the overall effectiveness of the organization’s security infrastructure. Here are some key integration points to consider:

1. IP address management (IPAM) integration

Effective firewall audit software should seamlessly integrate with IPAM solutions, ensuring accurate tracking and management of IP addresses. This integration ensures that IP address-related information is consistently and accurately synchronized between systems, streamlining network operations and enhancing security. This integration is vital for maintaining a comprehensive view of network configurations and minimizing security risks associated with IP address mismanagement.

2. Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR) integration

SOAR integration enhances the efficiency of incident response by automating repetitive tasks and orchestrating complex security processes. A firewall audit tool that integrates with SOAR platforms enables organizations to detect security events during audits and trigger automated responses, reducing manual effort and enhancing the organization’s ability to manage security incidents effectively.

3. Threat intelligence platform (TIP) integration

Firewall audit software should integrate with TIP to leverage up-to-date threat intelligence. This integration empowers organizations to proactively defend against emerging threats and continuously adapt their security controls.

4. IT system management (ITSM) integration

ITSM integration is a key feature to look for when selecting a firewall audit tool because it facilitates the integration of firewall management processes within the broader IT service management involved in designing, creating, delivering, and supporting IT services to customers. This integration enhances operational efficiency, ensures alignment with business objectives, and promotes a service-oriented approach to IT management.

5. Deployment

The deployment model of a firewall audit tool is a crucial consideration based on the organization’s specific needs, infrastructure, and security requirements. Vendors should offer flexibility in deployment options to accommodate diverse organizational structures:

On-premises deployment: Some organizations may prefer the firewall audit tool deployed on-premises, providing them full control over the tool’s infrastructure and data.

Cloud-based deployment: Cloud-based deployment offers scalability, flexibility, and accessibility, allowing organizations to leverage the advantages of cloud infrastructure.

Hybrid deployment: Organizations leverage a mix of on-premises resources and cloud services in a hybrid deployment model, creating a unified and interconnected firewall audit system.

6. Real-time data

The ability to provide real-time data is a key criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of a firewall audit tool. Organizations need timely and accurate information to respond promptly to security threats. This capability enhances overall security risk by ensuring timely detection and mitigation of potential threats.

Analysis based on customer reviews

This section offers some relevant user reviews gathered from B2B review platforms like G2, TrustRadius, and Capterra. We analyzed the reviews and picked the review specific to the companies’ firewall audit and compliance solutions.

1. Tufin

Apart from its firewall audit tool, Tufin offers network security policy orchestration, compliance audit, and automation of security policies across complex networks.

Pros and cons

• A positive customer review regarding Tufin’s securetrack tool which includes firewall audit, reporting, and compliance-related tasks. The customer also highlights that Tufin’s solutions require a good amount of memory and CPU to function smoothly.¹
• A customer review regarding Tufin supporting numerous firewalls and network devices, offering compliance checks and conflict resolution suggestions.²

2- ZScaler

Zscaler Cloud Platform, as a SaaS provider, includes engine services such as hybrid firewalls, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and data loss prevention (DLP).

Pros and cons

ZScaler is praised for threat prevention, SSL inspection, granular policy controls, and a user-friendly interface. Users highlight the pricing structure as a potential concern, particularly for small businesses with budget constraintss³.

3- Qualys

Qualys claims to offer a cloud-based platform for compliance monitoring and risk management, including Policy Compliance, File Integrity Monitoring, and Cloud Security Posture Management.

Pros and cons

While customers find Qualys’s PCI-DGG compliance tool user-friendly, they also found its subscription costs high.⁴.

4- FortiNet

FortiGate, as a firewall audit tool of FortiNet, is a firewall security audit tool. The software provides a hybrid deployment option and firewall features, integrating with IaaS cloud platforms and public cloud environments.

Pros and cons

A customer finds versatile GUI and CLI options, and customizable security profiles. However, users may encounter occasional challenges with the Forti DNS server, and there is room for improvement in the log service, with firewall version upgrades occasionally requiring downtime⁵.

5- Cisco

Cisco claims that Defense Orchestrator, the firewall audit product, is designed to streamline policy management across Cisco firewalls and public cloud infrastructure.

Pros and cons

A positive review of Defense Orchestrator commends its accessible pricing and effective threat defense for firewalls. However, users highlight the lack of features in comparison to the on-premises version⁶.

6- Cloudflare

The Cloudflare SASE platform integrates networking and security services within a cohesive architecture and delivers on the cloud environment.

Pros and cons

Reviewers appreciate the comprehensive security coverage provided by this solution, which includes features such as DLP, email security, isolation browsing, and protection for both on-premises and internet applications. Users express dissatisfaction with the initial setup, citing it as time-consuming and complex, with limited integrations⁷.

7- Palo Alto Networks

With the firewall audit product Prisma Cloud, Palo Alto Network claims to secure applications, fostering collaboration between security and DevOps teams.

Pros and cons

Users appreciate the product’s detailed vulnerability and threat reports and the remediation instructions. However, some users express dissatisfaction with complex pricing models and difficulties in troubleshooting due to challenging documentation⁸.

8- AlgoSec

AlgoSec claims to offer network security policy management solutions that automate and orchestrate security policy configuration, compliance, and change management.

Pros and cons

A customer review states that while AlgoSec offers many features, navigating the user interface (UI) can be a bit challenging, especially for users who are unfamiliar with the product⁹.

9- Security Manager by FireMon

Claims to provide network security policy management solutions, including compliance, risk analysis, and automated change management.

Pros and cons

According to a customer review, manual data entry for the Firewall laws is useful but risky due to irreversible deletion, requiring careful management and additional components for full functionality¹⁰.

10- Imperva

Imperva DDoS functions as a secure proxy by concealing the origin server’s IP address and filters incoming traffic to prevent DDoS attacks.

Pros and cons

Users appreciate Imperva DDoS Protection for robust infrastructure that effectively filters bad traffic and preserves bandwidth and performance by directing legitimate traffic to its destination. There are concerns regarding the challenges in configuring audit logging to SIEM, as well as potential security issues leading to data visibility and leakage, highlighting the need for improvement in the audit logging feature.

11- BeyondCorp

BeyondCorp Enterprise is a security solution that implements zero-trust principles while providing integrated access to applications and resources.

Pros and cons

Users praise BeyondCorp for continuously verifying identity and device trustworthiness and providing real-time monitoring of user and device activity. However, some express concerns about the heavy reliance on cloud services, limiting local testing capabilities.

12- Skybox Security Firewall Assurance

Skybox Security claims to provide cybersecurity management solutions, including firewall audit and compliance. The company also offers products focusing on network visibility and vulnerability detection.

Pros and cons

While customers found its firewall assurance tool simple and thorough, they also identified concerns regarding its local customer support for vendors and resellers¹¹.

Why use a firewall audit tool?

Using firewall audit software is crucial in ensuring network security and operational efficiency. These tools provide a systematic and thorough examination of firewall configurations and rules, which is essential for several reasons:

• Enhanced security: Firewall audit software identifies vulnerabilities and misconfigurations that could be exploited by cyber threats.
• Compliance assurance: It helps ensure compliance with various regulatory standards by maintaining proper firewall configurations.
• Optimized performance: Regular audits can optimize firewall performance by removing unnecessary or outdated rules, improving overall network efficiency.

In conclusion, selecting the right firewall audit software is crucial for ensuring a robust security posture in an increasingly automated world. By considering the key criteria and understanding the offerings of major vendors, businesses can effectively protect their network infrastructures against potential threats and maintain compliance with regulatory mandates.

Further reading

• Firewalls vs Proxy Servers: Overview, Techniques and Benefits
• Firewall as a Service: Definition & Top 8 Benefits

If you need further help finding a vendor or have any questions, feel free to contact us:

External resources

• 1. A customer review on Tufin regarding Securetrack. G2. Accessed: 01/January/2024.
• 2. A customer review on Tufin. G2. Accessed: 31/December/2023.
• 3. A customer review on ZScaler regarding Cloud Platform. G2. Accessed: 08/March/2024.
• 4. A customer review on Qualys. G2. Accessed: 30/December/2023.
• 5. A customer review on FortiGate Security Manager. TrustRadius. Accessed: 8/March/2024.
• 6. A customer review on Cisco Defense Orchestrator. TrustRadius. Accessed: 8/March/2024.
• 7. A customer review on Cloudflare SASE. G2. Accessed: 8/March/2024.
• 8. A customer review on Palo Alto Network. G2. Accessed: 31/December/2023.
• 9. A customer review on Algosec. G2. Accessed: 31/December/2023.
• 10. A customer review on Firemon Security Manager. G2. Accessed: 31/December/2023.
• 11. A customer review on Skybox. G2. Accessed: 01/January/2024.