Firewalls are a critical part of an organization’s network security infrastructure. They act as a barrier between internal networks and untrusted external networks, like the internet. Firewalls control inbound and outbound network traffic using a defined set of security rules, blocking malicious attacks while allowing authorized communications.
The purpose of a firewall is to grant or block access based on an organization’s security policies. Well-configured firewalls provide robust protection against cyber threats attempting to infiltrate networks and systems. They provide fundamental safeguards for data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
There are many factors that determine the cost of a firewall solution. The major considerations include the type of firewall (hardware, software, cloud), features and functionality, capacity and performance requirements, deployment model (on-premise, hybrid, cloud), vendor and licensing, installation and configuration, maintenance and support, training, and upgrades.
This article will examine the various components that comprise firewall costs and provide estimated price ranges to help organizations budget and plan their network security investments.
Hardware Costs
The cost of physical firewall appliances from leading vendors like Cisco, Juniper, and Palo Alto Networks can vary greatly based on factors like:
- Firewall model – Entry-level, mid-range, high-end
- Throughput – Rated in gbps
- Number of concurrent connections
- Number and type of ports – Copper, fiber, SFP
- Form factor – Desktop, rackmount, blade
- Additional hardware features – SSL acceleration, threat prevention
For example, Cisco offers a range of ASA firewall models for small, midsize and large businesses and organizations. An entry-level Cisco ASA 5506-X with FirePOWER starts around $1,000. The mid-range ASA 5516-X can run $7,000 – $10,000. Cisco’s high-end ASA 5585-X adaptive security appliance comes in over $35,000.
Palo Alto’s PA-220 model for small enterprises is approximately $2,000. The mid-range PA-820 for large enterprises costs around $20,000. Top-of-the-line Palo Alto PA-7080 firewalls can run well over $100,000.
Juniper SRX line pricing also scales dramatically based on features and performance. The small branch SRX300 starts under $1000. The data center-focused high-end SRX5800 runs $50,000-$100,000.
Keep in mind that hardware appliance costs represent only a portion of overall firewall expenditures.
Software Costs
The costs of software and virtual firewall licenses can vary greatly depending on the vendor and features included. Some popular vendors for software and virtual firewalls include Check Point, Fortinet, Juniper, Palo Alto Networks, and Sophos.
For example, Fortinet offers the FortiGate VM01 virtual firewall software with prices starting at $969 for the annual subscription license with standard support according to AVFirewalls. This includes features like antivirus, intrusion prevention, web filtering, and VPN capabilities.
Sophos provides virtual firewall license pricing based on the number of cores and RAM included. A 1 core and 4GB RAM virtual firewall license from Sophos is priced around $210 according to Firewalls.com.
Overall, costs range from a few hundred dollars for basic software firewalls to over $1000+ for advanced virtual firewalls with added security protections, support levels, and bundled services. The features, capacity, and vendor support included impact costs significantly.
Managed Services
Many organizations opt to use managed firewall services from providers like Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, and other major telecom and IT services companies. These providers offer firewall management, monitoring, and support as a subscription service.
With a managed firewall service, the provider configures, updates, monitors, and manages your firewalls remotely. This alleviates the burden on your in-house IT staff and ensures your firewalls are optimized, compliant, and up-to-date.
Typical managed firewall services include:
– 24/7 monitoring and alerting
– Configuration and change management
– Regular firmware and security updates
– Performance optimization and tuning
– Compliance auditing and reporting
– Incident response
Managed firewall service pricing varies by provider but is generally around $100-$300 per firewall appliance per month. This pricing scales based on number of locations and firewalls. There are usually minimum commitments of 1-3 years.
The main benefits of managed firewall services are reduced staffing costs, increased security and compliance, and transfer of liability risks. The tradeoff is less customization control versus managing firewalls in-house.
Installation & Configuration
The cost for a managed service provider (MSP) or IT specialist to install and configure a firewall varies greatly depending on the complexity of the setup. According to Triaxiom Security, a basic firewall configuration review starts around $2,000 for a small business network firewall solution (https://www.triaxiomsecurity.com/how-much-does-a-firewall-configuration-review-cost/).
More complex enterprise firewall deployments across multiple locations and VPN configurations can cost $10,000 or more for installation and setup by a specialist. Ongoing monthly costs for an MSP to manage and monitor the firewall may range from $150/month to over $1,000/month depending on the extent of services.
For a small business with basic needs, Snaptech IT estimates the firewall setup and configuration cost to be around $600 – $2,000 on average (https://www.snaptechit.com/article/what-should-my-commercial-grade-firewall-cost/). This covers the initial time and expertise to install, optimize firewall rules, configure VPN access, and ensure proper security settings are in place.
Installation and configuration costs may be included with the firewall purchase price from some vendors or IT providers. But budgeting several hundred to a few thousand dollars for professional setup is advisable for most small to medium sized business firewall deployments.
Maintenance & Support
Ongoing maintenance and support is a significant cost factor when budgeting for a firewall solution. Most vendors offer annual support contracts covering software updates, patches, technical assistance, and hardware replacement. According to a request for bid from the State of Wisconsin, the annual support renewal quote from Palo Alto Networks for existing firewall subscriptions was $17,784 (Palo Alto Firewall Subscriptions and Support Renewal). This gives a rough estimate of the annual costs for maintaining a Palo Alto firewall deployment.
Support coverage levels and response times impact the cost. Basic 9-5 support will be cheaper than 24/7 assistance with 1 hour response. The specific firewall models also influence support pricing. More advanced firewalls with additional features and capacity will have higher support costs. Overall, organizations should budget around 15-25% of the initial firewall cost for yearly maintenance and support.
Training
The cost of training staff on properly managing and configuring firewalls can vary greatly depending on the size of the organization and depth of training required. According to TrustNet, the starting cost for basic security awareness training for 50 employees is around $1,000 (https://trustnetinc.com/security-awareness-training/). For more advanced network security training costs on topics like firewall administration, costs can rise into the thousands or tens of thousands of dollars, especially for larger enterprises.
According to Cognician, comprehensive cybersecurity training programs at large companies can cost up to $70 million, but costs are highly variable (https://info.cognician.com/blog/how-much-does-cybersecurity-training-cost). Factors like the number of employees, depth of training, delivery method (in-person, online, etc.), and inclusion of simulations and hands-on labs can all impact training costs. Ongoing training is also often necessary as new threats emerge.
Some lower cost options for foundational firewall training include online courses from providers like Simplilearn, Coursera, and CompTIA. However, more advanced hands-on programs from organizations like EC-Council and ISC2 tend to be more expensive. Government agencies may offer free or subsidized training programs as well.
Upgrades
One ongoing cost of owning a firewall is periodic upgrades to the hardware and software. As new cyber threats emerge and network requirements change, it becomes necessary to upgrade firewall components to maintain strong security and performance.
Hardware such as firewall appliances may need upgrading every 3-5 years. According to a 2017 report, the cost of upgrading physical firewall appliances can be significant depending on the size and capabilities required.
Software upgrades are also required periodically as vendors release enhanced versions or new features. For example, the City of Hickory’s 2022-2023 budget includes $102,600 allocated for a network firewall software upgrade (pg. 161). The software upgrade ensures the firewall has the latest protections against emerging cyber threats.
When planning a firewall implementation, organizations should factor in both periodic hardware and software upgrade costs to keep the firewall optimized over time.
Case Studies
Below are a few examples of real companies and their firewall costs:
According to a case study from https://www.datamation.com/security/firewall-use-cases/, Deakin University worked with Modis to implement a fully managed Cisco firewall solution. They replaced their legacy firewalls with Cisco Firepower Threat Defense and Cisco Firepower Management Center. The total cost was around $400,000.
A large enterprise industrial products company implemented SonicWall firewalls to optimize security performance while lowering TCO, according to a TechValidate case study. The SonicWall NSA 6600 Next-Generation Firewalls cost around $18,000 each.
Conclusion
In summary, the total cost of implementing a firewall solution for a small business in the US can range widely based on the specific needs, features, services and vendors chosen. Key factors that contribute to the total cost include:
- Firewall hardware costs, which can range from $700 to $10,000 for commercial-grade devices.
- Firewall software costs, such as annual licensing fees starting around $500.
- Managed firewall services, ranging from $100 to $300 per month.
- Installation and configuration, averaging $500 to $2,000 as a one-time fee.
- Ongoing maintenance and support, which is often included in managed services plans or around 20% of initial costs per year.
- Training on the firewall solution, budgeting $1,000 to $5,000.
- Future upgrades, budgeting 10-20% of hardware/software costs annually.
By evaluating their specific technical needs, business requirements, and IT resources, organizations can develop a customized firewall solution within their budget constraints. Typical costs for a small business generally fall between $2,000 to $15,000 for the first year, with ongoing costs of $1,500 to $5,000 per year thereafter.