The next generation of Cisco firewalls

- [Instructor] Cisco ASA firewalls are a popular choice for businesses of all sizes. However, as threats evolve, it's important to consider migrating to a more advanced security solution such as a Cisco next-generation firewall. Cisco next-generation firewalls offer a number of advantages over traditional ones, and that includes a wider range of security features such as intrusion prevention, application control, and data loss prevention. Some of these features require additional licenses and added costs, so be sure to get the total picture of costs ahead of time before your migration. Improvements also include improved visibility. They provide this improved visibility into network traffic, which can help administrators to identify and respond to security threats more quickly. Next-generation firewalls are easier to manage than traditional ones. You may be used to managing a Cisco or other firewall using a command line but you may want to give the new GUI a try. If you are considering migrating from a Cisco or other brand of firewall to a Cisco next-generation firewall, there are a few things you need to do to prepare for that migration. The first step is to assess your current environment and identify your security needs. This will help you to determine which Cisco next-generation firewall model is right for you. Find out what current firewall rules are in place and what traffic is allowed or blocked. You might also find some outdated access lists you should consider deleting. Once you've assessed your current environment, you need to plan for your migration. This includes creating a timeline for the migration, identifying any potential challenges, and developing a communication plan for your users. This outage may require some downtime, so it will likely be performed after hours. Once you have a plan in place, you can begin your migration. The migration process will vary depending on your specific environment, so be sure to overestimate the amount of time planned for being down to avoid calls in case something takes longer than expected. Once the migration is complete, you need to test your new environment to make sure that it's working properly, and this includes testing your security policies, your network connectivity, and user access. Test from both inside the network as well as outside to ensure everything is working as desired. Once you've tested your new environment, you need to monitor it on an ongoing basis to make sure that it's secure. This includes monitoring your security logs, your network traffic, and user activity. Migrating from a Cisco ASA firewall to a Cisco next-generation firewall can be a complex process but it's important to do it right to ensure that your network is protected. By following the steps outlined, you can make the migration process as smooth as possible.