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13
Jan
2022
Next Generation Firewalls from Sophos and navitend

Next Generation Firewalls from Sophos and navitend

Cyberattacks can spell disaster for small businesses. According to a 2019 CNBC article, forty-three percent of all cyberattacks are aimed at smaller companies. 

Sadly, only a minority of small businesses have the defenses they need to protect themselves against attacks. Further, on average, cyber attacks can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and a majority of these businesses are forced to close their doors forever within six months.

The best practice in defending against these kinds of attacks requires employing a "defense in depth" strategy which involves "layers" of security. In addition to tactics such as end-user training, end-point protection, vulnerability management, the Next Generation Firewall has become a mainstay in progressive network security architectures.

While the "firewall" has been a mainstay in the security world since the 1980's, traditional firewalls often fall far short of identifying and preventing serious network threats. The gaps in the traditional firewall have led to the industry demand for more functionality in a single device -- meet the Next Generation Firewall (NGFW).

As outlined in this Network Computing article, Next Generation Firewalls (NGFW) offer many advantages including features such as: intrusion protection systems (IPSs) and integrated intrusion detection systems (IDSs). These functionalities help protect users by detecting cyberattacks based on “behavioral analysis, threat signatures, or anomalous activity” within a network's traffic flow. 

A major benefit of next-gen firewalls is that they deliver comprehensive network protection in a single convenient package. Traditionally, assembling the capabilities offered by a NGFW would require a stack of special-purpose appliances for each type of threat. Today, it is not uncommon for a NGFW to provide spam filtering, antivirus protection, deep packet inspection, and application controls in a single device. This not only saves you money, but more importantly, it gives you much-needed peace of mind. On a practical note, installing a single device in your networking rack or closet is much easier than a stack of devices, each with their own power supply. In fact, many years ago Cisco devices required service contracts due to the propensity of their power supplies to fail. Many a late night was spent replacing expensive Cisco equipment!

Another benefit of Next Generation Firewalls is that they give you access to cloud management services, so you can easily manage multiple firewalls simultaneously. Consider the Sophos XGS line of firewalls. Sophos XGS users can utilize the capable Sophos Central management platform, which helps network engineers keep track of every firewall they have under management. 

The cloud-based Sophos Central maintains log data from each NGFW while also providing flexible, easy-to-use reporting tools that engineers analyze and visualize their network over various time-frames. Analyzing traffic from a single day up to several months enables useful insights to network traffic flow. 

Sophos XGS firewalls are equipped with application control and Quality of Service (QoS) features, giving engineers enhanced visibility and control over thousands of applications, based on key factors such as risk and application category. Sophos also gives XGS users access to Synchronized Application Control, which “automatically identifies all the unknown, evasive, and custom applications” on their networks. XGS firewalls use built-in deep learning technologies and advanced intrusion prevention to protect the network.

A common strategy of attackers is to gain access to a single node and then move "laterally" to other nodes on the network. The XGS’s automatic threat response technology can detect compromised systems and move to isolate the node from the network, thereby protecting the rest of the network. This dynamic and proactive functionality helps prevent data breaches and impedes the lateral flow of malicious information.

We could talk all day about the benefits of the Sophos XGS NGFW, particularly when deployed in conjunction with XDR endpoint protection. We have the solutions to help keep your business secure.

Contact us at 973.448.0070

Testimonials

  • "Navitend has consistently offered timely, professional, and courteous solutions to our business needs ranging from troubleshooting, purchase and setup of new computers and other advice. They are my 'go-to team' and continue to be a trusted support in our time of need."

    Laurie Placeres
  • "THE BEST!! I've never felt compelled to write a review for any service until having the pleasure to work with Navitend. The professional and supportive staff make an often frustrating technical situation, dare I say, enjoyable. They always go above and beyond to find answers to unique problems. Their response time is unbelievably fast. I could not more highly recommend!!"

    Stephanie Howland
  • "I cannot say enough about Navitend's expertise, customer service, knowledge and professionalism! They have been a great partner with our company for all of our IT needs."

    Margaret Davis
  • "Everyone at Navitend I have worked with has offered some of the best customer service I have had. They are patient, knowledgeable and somehow remember my and my colleagues' names. After working with other IT support, I am thrilled my organization is using their services."

    Robyn Ulmer
  • "Thanks so much!  You are a class act!  
    You and your team have really done an excellent job on this!"

    Steve Van Ooteghem, The C12 Group in Houston, Texas
  • "Navitend has been a life-saver many times for me! They are diligent in troubleshooting problems - until they resolve it. I've worked many times with Corey Feinsod and he is fantastic - I can count on him to fix all my Outlook and computer problems. Overall, I highly recommend Navitend."

    TeleSearch
  • "Our company uses navitend for all of our IT needs. Rick and team worked for many hours today repairing an issue they had never seen before. With a project deadline of 5pm today, they were able to figure out the issue and get me back to work. The persistence, urgency and professionalism are 2nd to none. Thank you!!"

    Matthew Bick
  • "Corey came to my rescue by getting Quick Books working for me. He is excellent at what he does. Very knowledgeable in the Tech field. I don't know what we at Equity Environmental would ever do without him. Thank you Corey!!!!"

    Lucille Favale
  • "Corey is ... an IT genius!!!! This man deserves a major raise and weekly bonuses!!! Navitend is my go to for everything IT related, morning noon night and weekends!!! Love this crew!!"

    Heather C
  • "Navitend was great and my experience was beyond excellent. Very professional, courteous, and responded in a timely manner. They go above and beyond for their clients. They are a pleasure to work with. Kudos to the Navitend Team - keep up the great job!"

    Ann “Schitzies” Henderson
  • "Navitend is an amazing resource for all your IT need! Navitend has been supporting Capitol Care Inc.'s IT needs for many years now and our relationship is wonderful! They are in the know on the latest tech trends and they are always working to enhance our security. Their support team is amazing and you are lucky to have the chance to work with Anthony DeRosa. He is professional, knowledgeable, and always willing to go the extra mile to assist us! HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COMPANY!!!"

    Nicole Shenise
  • "Corey and the group at Navitend are always so helpful and do everything they can to help. Thanks for your professionalism and continued help."

    Robin Ennis
  • "My customer service experience with Navitend was absolutely amazing. My computer crashed and we needed to order a new one. Navitend was there to help and get us a new computer and set it up from start to finish. The tech Corey that came out was very pleasant to work with. From start to finish he made sure that all of my programs were working properly again from my old machine. I even had follow-up phone calls from him making sure I was happy with how everything was set up. I have never experienced such exceptional customer service."

    Brian Matthews
  • "My firm has used Navitend for our IT needs for over 10 years and we are highly satisfied. We’ve found the navitend team to be professional, friendly, and, knowledgeable. They are sensitive to our changing IT needs and the shifting compliance landscape within the financial services industry. We recently completed a server migration and had the pleasure of working with Tony & Andrea who handled the project extremely well, ensuring a smooth transition. We are pleased to call Navitend our trusted IT partner!"

    Kristin Strunk
  • "We've dedicated our lives to growing our retail and ecommerce business and it's a relief to have found a company like navitend who treats our business likes it's their own. navitend's personal approach to project management and problem solving are top-notch."

    Stamatis, Co-owner Twisted Lily, Fragrance Boutique and Apothecary
  • "I am truly impressed by the focus the team places on the requests from our company. Truly an excellent team!!"

    Josefina and Christian Abboud
  • "Andrea always goes above and beyond with meeting expectations and customer satisfaction! Navitend provides great IT services."

    George Zauflik
  • "I wanted to personally thank Corey for always helping me with any concerns I have about my software inquiry issues. He is quick with his responses and I am always up to date with all my connectivity. Always a great experience! Thank you!"

    Blerina Pano
  • "De'Ana gave great insight on billing issues. I recommend Navitend for all IT services."

    Christian Majeste
  • "100% of all expectations met. Don't just consider Navitend, choose them and get back to YOUR mission!"

    C Baker
  • "Thank you to Anthony at navitend for the time and effort he put into trying to resolve the issues my laptop was experiencing. I so appreciated his tenacity, professionalism and good humor as we tried (and tried) to figure out a solution. Anthony made sure I understood what was happening at all times, explained things thoroughly and followed up when promised."

    Maria DG
  • "The staff at Navitend is very professional and strives to meet the needs of their clients. As a Small Business owner trust and professionalism are keys to conducting business. Navitend sets a high standard of ensuring their clients trust their decisions are for the interest of their business."

    Christopher Schaefer
  • "I have done business with Navitend for 10+ years and have found their products and professionalism to be 1st rate. And, from a “service after the sale” perspective … even though my company is California based, my customer experience couldn’t be better. Frank Ableson and his team are top tier professionals. Proud to be one of their customers!"

    Bryan Hyzdu
  • "Navitend is always providing prompt response, strong technical skills and excellent customer service. Corey, Jeffrey and the other technical support team members are very helpful and user-friendly. Thank you all very much for your fabulous work!"

    Chenghan Liu
  • "Over the years that Navitend has been supporting my network and hosting our web site they have always been responsive, professional, and highly skilled. On a few occasions, I have turned away other vendors that have tried to get their foot in the door. Very satisfied."

    M B
  • "The nonprofit that I work for contracts with Navitend for tech support. I am so grateful for this service! The support team is highly trained, friendly, professional, and is able to figure out any and every situation that requires help. I recently had a rather lengthy software installation and worked with Andrea who was amazing. I can't recommend Navitend highly enough. I'd give more stars if I could!"

    Claire Lynch
  • "I recently had to work from home for the first time, and Corey at Navitend provided EXCELLENT service. He was patient, kind, and followed through on all the details!"

    Penny Carbaugh
  • "navitend has been a great IT partner for our company.  Their helpdesk response time is the best I have experienced in my 30 year career.  navitend has helped me to have great IT services without the need to have a full time, in house, technician at significant savings to our company."

    Bob Bradley, President, Bradley Graphics
  • "Anthony was very helpful and solved all my issues promptly. I appreciate all his hard work. Thank you Navitend and Anthony."

    Kyle Hersh
  • "Navitend is a professional, responsive, and knowledgeable organization. They go above and beyond for their clients. The other day Corey Feinsod, one of their Network Technicians, helped resolve a challenging technical issue I experienced working remotely. I appreciate that their team finds value in customer service."

    Cheryl Proska
  • "Awesome managed services provider."

    Rick Smith
  • "I just had an excellent experience with Navitend! I got a new computer and I needed Microsoft Office installed and access to an additional e-mail account. The Navitend team was so professional, polite, and patient with me. I am not technologically savvy at all, so they were doing all that they could with the little bit of information that I gave them. They spent over an hour trying to help me. They went above and beyond in assisting me and I was able to get everything installed that I needed. The Navitend team is doing a great job!"

    Denise Taylor
  • "AMAZING!!!! Every time I have an issue or question, Navitend responds promptly and professionally. Each time I deal with one of their support technicians, I am always grateful for how quickly an issue is resolved and how courteous the staff is. I cannot recommend Navitend enough!!! Wonderful support in a day and age when customer service can be challenging."

    Jacqueline Balloutine
  • "Our company uses Navitend for all its IT needs and every time I've had to ask them for help, they've fixed the issue within hours. Thank you so much!"

    Chase Palmer
  • "This IT firm has been extremely patient, helpful and professional and they are immediately available to troubleshoot and solve problems whenever they arise. Highly recommend them!"

    Kathy Kwasnik
  • "I have been working with Navitend for 10+ years. Great group of talented professionals!"

    Anne Wisnewski
  • "Our company is more efficient and has grown as a result of navitend’s work. navitend helped us get to the next level."

    Greg Niccolai / Madison Insurance
  • "Navitend has been great with me and my colleagues as we go through a difficult transition to new technology! They are incredibly patient and helpful. I highly recommend them."

    Molly Debevoise Rennie
  • "I look forward to working with you again in the future. Once again, thanks to your organization for your prompt response."

    Luke Wolters / Luke Wolters Tax Consultants
  • "I appreciate that they didn’t just build the application. They made it better by bringing ideas to the table that not only made for a better user experience, but also kept the development costs down."

    Andy Lynch / North Star Marketing
  • navitend’s approach to customer service is greatly appreciated here.  Ensuring that we are well protected from a technology standpoint provides us with peace of mind to continue our day to day operations and that they are looking out for our company's best interest. 

    Debbie
  • "I highly recommend navitend for their professionalism, integrity, down-to-earth advice and thoughtful recommendations. Every solution that they offer is unique and the most appropriate to their customers' needs."

    Paula Muller
  • "This company is the best! I feel for the guys that have to help us who are not so tech savvy! Never have I been disappointed at the great service Navitend provides! Corey was especially helpful and I highly recommend Navitend for all your IT needs! You will be extremely satisfied!"

    Kathleen Cwienkala
  • "Thanks so much again for taking care of everything in such an expedient manner. It's a pleasure to work with navitend and its staff as always!"

    Lawrence Wolfin / Textol Systems, Inc.
  • “Navitend’s expertise helped our firm over the past year to effectively elevate our I.T. game, powering our website into a highly interactive tool. Well done to Frank and his team!”  

    Chuck Steege, CFP®, CEP, President, SFG Wealth Planning Services, Inc.
  • "Best costumer service!! They are the nicest and most patient people. I highly highly recommend!!!!"

    Stephanie Samuel
  • "Navitend is a professional IT organization that I would recommend to my clients. Navitend builds strong relationships with their clients to better understand their needs. Navitend is community focused and does work to support local charities. Overall a great company."

    Michael Leyden
  • "Corey was outstanding today in the services he provided - efficient, professional, knowlegable, kind, and understanding with someone who has no clue about computers. Thank you! 😊"

    Mertie Potter
  • "Great tech support."

    Ralph Blakeslee
  • "We wholeheartedly recommend Navitend for their exceptional IT solutions and services; they have undoubtedly earned our trust and loyalty for future endeavors."

    Benjamin Triggiani
  • "Navitend has gone above and beyond my highest expectations. Anthony was great! He was able to coordinate with an Adobe Rep and resolve issues that I had just put too much time into. Thank you again - It was a real pleasure working with you!"

    Forrest Schandel
  • "Very helpful, courteous & professional. They do a great job and are pleasant to work with as well."

    Robert Linnett
  • "Corey has been very helpful! Response to my concerns are always prompt and he makes it easy for me to understand exactly what he is doing. I am very grateful for his help!"

    Sue Livingston
  • "The tech's at Navitend are very knowledgeable and thorough. Cory was patient and kept looking into every avenue until he found the issue and fixed it. Thank you so much you guys are great."

    Lisa Palanchi, COO / Camp Six Inc.
  • "Corey helped me with what I thought would be a minor problem that snowballed in to some complex computer world wizardly stuff and he was so smooth and calming and had it fixed in 15 minutes!! YES!!!! Tuesday crisis obverted!!"

    Kari Maddox
  • "Their technicians? Unsurpassed, each and every one of them. They make me and my co-workers feel as though they are just sitting in their office waiting for us to call them with a problem so they can solve it right away. They treat us as if we are their only client. Talk about great customer service. Call them, you'll be glad you did."

    Kathy Molyneaux
  • "Their support staff is beyond good. They sorted out our company email server migration problem yesterday in record time. It's great to work with a team that has expertise in depth. There are so many one-man-bands out there. It was a good decision to go with the pros."

    Steve S
  • "Navitend is a professional company providing Quality service, great customer service and prompt response to service needs."

    Tammie Horsfield
  • "I needed to have the battery on my computer replaced. Andrea met me in person to complete that task. While with her, Andrea was able to assist me with a variety of software and computer setup issues. Andrea was pleasant, professional and patient with me and I greatly appreciated her assistance. She came to address one need but was able to fix several for which I am grateful. I think she is an asset to the Navitend team! Thanks again Andrea."

    George Xuereb
  • "These folks are spectacular! They're contracted by my work to provide IT support, and they are SO responsive that my mind is blown every time! Just a quick email to request help, and I immediately get a response for a patient and friendly person to call me and walk me through the solutions."

    Hannah