SD-WAN vs Firewall: How combining them can transform your network

You might think that SD-WAN and firewalls are two completely unrelated technologies. However, integrating these innovations improves network availability, optimizes network performance, and adds an extra layer of security capabilities to your organization.

In this blog post, you will learn more about SD-WAN and firewalls, and why combining them can be a game-changer for your network infrastructure.

How Firewalls and SD-WAN work together

Firewalls and SD-WAN provide network security and management benefits but do it in different ways. A firewall enforces rules determining the security of outgoing and incoming network traffic, while SD-WAN enhances and manages traffic by directing it through the best available route. While many people working in IT use these technologies separately, you can integrate them for more secure and successful network performance. 

Steps to integrate Firewalls and SD-WAN

Combining a firewall with an SD-WAN solution requires multiple steps. First, you must determine your network’s security and performance requirements and choose a firewall that integrates with an SD-WAN device. Then you need to physically connect your chosen firewall with the device and configure security policies on the firewall. That helps you decide which network router traffic to approve or block. You also need to determine network optimization procedures in your SD-WAN device.

Testing your integration and monitoring your network is critical. The best network monitoring tools, like LogicMonitor’s LM Envision platform, evaluate and visualize the performance and security of your entire network infrastructure, helping you identify and minimize issues that could impact your organization. LogicMonitor’s platform provides real-time network monitoring, letting you troubleshoot problems as they happen.

Benefits of combining Firewalls with SD-WAN

Combining firewalls and SD-WAN provides multiple benefits for network security and management. Integrating these technologies improves security by safeguarding internal and perimeter network layers. Your firewall protects your network infrastructure from external threats, while your SD-WAN device protects against dangers from incoming traffic. 

Integrating firewalls with SD-WAN will also streamline network management, allowing you to focus on other IT tasks. You can benefit from a centralized network management system that ensures availability and reduces component failures. 

Next, let’s take a look at the individual benefits of these two technologies:

Understanding Firewalls

Definition 

A firewall is a network security device or software that observes and manages incoming and outgoing network traffic based on your preferred security parameters. It serves as a gatekeeper between your network and another network, like the Internet. Using a firewall can prevent unauthorized access to your network. 

Functionality

Firewalls function in different ways. Firewalls monitor network packets and compare them to your security protocols, deciding which packets should pass through your network. It also prevents your network from accessing specific ports, which is an old-school way of making it more difficult for bad actors to infiltrate your network and steal sensitive data. 

Other firewall functionality includes network address translation (NAT), which allows an internal network device to hide its IP address on the internet. NAT technically can hide an internal network device’s IP, but the primary purpose of NAT is to allow many (internal) hosts to access another network (usually the public internet) with the same address, so NAT is not quite “firewall” functionality.

In a modern environment, firewall solutions that go along with secure SD-WAN typically operate on zones and applications and abstract a lot of the IP/Port concepts of older firewalls. 

Types

Firewall types include stateful inspection firewalls that inspect network packets and monitor connections between devices. Application layer firewalls examine network traffic at the application layer of a network based on the services and applications you use. Next-generation firewalls have extra advanced security features such as URL filtering and intrusion prevention. Cloud firewalls have recently become more popular and monitor network traffic in cloud applications.

Importance in network security

Firewalls and antivirus are important because they protect your valuable data centers from hackers and ensure your network is safe and reliable. Bad actors can distribute malware and distributed denial of service attacks after finding network vulnerabilities, making firewalls one of the most important additions to your tech stack. 

Understanding SD-WAN

Definition

SD-WAN stands for Software-defined Wide Area Network. It uses software to spread network traffic across a wide area network and maintain network speeds and connectivity. 

Functionality

SD-WAN functions by controlling how network traffic passes through locations. SD-WAN typically requires physical hardware and uses software to decide the best route for network traffic in real-time based on performance and bandwidth. 

Traditional WAN at scale usually requires large amounts of money for MPLS circuits, which are like toll roads that provide reliable, safe, critical internet connections between two points. 

SD-WAN is highly regarded because it takes many “commodity” internet connections (COX business accounts, home connections, satellites, MPLS, etc.), and it automatically manages traffic between them to give you a user experience like MPLS for much less cost and hassle. 

Benefits

SD-WAN improves network performance. Ultimately, SD-WAN enhances traffic so the applications and service providers you use work properly. It also offers multiple security advantages. You can create security procedures through a single virtual platform, making it easy to review network activity and identify threats. 

Importance in network management

Another benefit is simplified network management. You can customize and manage WANs with software rather than dealing with a traditional WAN through physical hardware. That can save time and costs for your organization and make it easier to administer and operate your network. 

 SD-WAN vs. Firewalls

Feature	SD-WAN	Firewall	Combined Use
Primary Function	Optimizes network traffic and performance.	Secures network by monitoring and blocking threats.	Enhances both network performance and security.
Key Benefit	Improves connectivity and reduces costs.	Protects against cyber threats.	Provides a balanced approach to security and performance.
Use Cases	Multi-site connectivity, cloud access.	Perimeter security, internal segmentation.	Best for businesses needing both optimization and security.
Deployment	Cloud or on-premises, managed centrally.	Hardware or virtual, at network perimeter.	Integrated, often within a unified platform.
Performance Impact	Optimizes routes for lower latency.	May slow down traffic due to inspection.	Balances security with performance needs.

When to use SD-WAN, Firewalls, or both

Choosing between SD-WAN, firewalls, or a combination of both depends on your organization’s specific network needs, security requirements, and overall IT strategy. Here’s a guide to help you determine the best approach for different scenarios:

When to use SD-WAN

SD-WAN is ideal for organizations that need to optimize their wide-area networks (WANs) for better performance and cost efficiency. Consider using SD-WAN in the following scenarios:

• Multiple Branch Locations: If your business operates across multiple locations, SD-WAN can simplify WAN management by providing centralized control and automated traffic routing across diverse connection types like broadband, LTE, and MPLS.
• Cloud-First Strategies: Organizations that rely heavily on cloud applications and services benefit from SD-WAN’s ability to provide direct, optimized access to cloud providers, bypassing traditional backhaul paths that can cause latency.
• Cost Reduction Needs: SD-WAN can significantly reduce operational costs by utilizing cheaper broadband connections alongside traditional MPLS, effectively balancing performance and cost without sacrificing reliability.
• Performance Optimization: For companies looking to improve application performance, SD-WAN’s ability to dynamically route traffic through the best available path ensures that critical applications receive the bandwidth and low latency they need.

When to use Firewalls

Firewalls are essential for any network security strategy, providing a first line of defense against cyber threats. You should prioritize standalone firewall solutions in the following situations:

• High-Security Environments: If your organization handles sensitive data or operates in a highly regulated industry (e.g., healthcare, finance), standalone firewalls offer the advanced threat prevention and compliance features necessary to protect critical assets.
• Internal Network Segmentation: Firewalls are effective for segmenting internal networks, creating security zones that restrict access to sensitive areas, and preventing lateral movement by attackers within the network.
• Dedicated Perimeter Security: For businesses with traditional network architectures that rely on a strong perimeter defense, firewalls provide robust security features such as deep packet inspection, intrusion prevention, and application-layer filtering.
• Complex Security Requirements: When your network demands intricate security policies, detailed monitoring, and customized access controls, standalone firewalls offer the depth of security management that SD-WAN alone cannot provide.

When to use both SD-WAN and Firewalls

Integrating SD-WAN with firewalls can provide the best of both worlds—optimized network performance and robust security. Consider combining both technologies in these scenarios:

• Comprehensive Security and Performance: Organizations that need to maintain high performance across their network while ensuring strong security should integrate SD-WAN and firewalls. This combination helps in dynamically routing traffic efficiently while protecting against cyber threats at multiple layers.
• Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Environments: For businesses leveraging hybrid cloud or multi-cloud environments, integrating SD-WAN and firewalls ensures secure, optimized connections between on-premises infrastructure and various cloud services, enhancing both connectivity and security posture.
• Retail and Distributed Enterprises: Retail chains, franchises, and other distributed enterprises with many endpoints can benefit from SD-WAN’s simplified management and firewalls’ ability to protect sensitive transactions and customer data across all locations.
• Remote Workforces: As remote work becomes more prevalent, combining SD-WAN and firewalls can secure remote connections, ensuring employees have reliable, fast, and secure access to corporate resources from any location.

Conclusion: Maximizing network performance with SD-WAN and Firewalls

Firewalls and SD-WAN have many differences, but combining them can improve network performance, management, and security. Doing so can prevent cyberattacks and ensure your applications operate smoothly, providing a robust solution that meets both connectivity and security needs. You can create a resilient and efficient network infrastructure that supports your business objectives by leveraging both technologies.

Continuous monitoring is essential to maximize the benefits of integrating SD-WAN and firewalls. LogicMonitor’s LM Envision platform provides full visibility into your entire network infrastructure, offering real-time insights and proactive alerts in a single pane of glass. This ensures you can swiftly identify and resolve issues, keeping your network secure and optimized.