Choosing The Best Firewalls For Small Business In The UK

Choosing the right firewall can feel a bit daunting. For most small UK businesses, it usually boils down to two main options: a Unified Threat Management (UTM) device for its all-in-one simplicity, or a Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) if you need finer control over applications. If your team is mostly remote, a cloud-based firewall is often the smartest choice.

Protecting Your Business With The Right Firewall

In the past, a firewall was just a simple gatekeeper. Now, it's an essential weapon in your fight against increasingly clever cyber threats. For any small or medium-sized business, your firewall is the first and most important line of defence for your network, your data, and ultimately, your reputation. Choosing wisely means going beyond basic checks and getting a solution that can spot and stop malicious attacks before they do any real harm.

The first step is always to understand what you actually need. Are you a small team working from a single office? A growing company with people logging in from home? Do you handle sensitive customer information? Your answers will point you toward the right type of firewall.

Core Firewall Categories for SMBs

For most small businesses, the choice really comes down to three types. Each one handles security, management, and cost a bit differently, so it’s important to know the score. Getting this right is a huge part of good cybersecurity for your small business.

Many UK businesses get it. The UK Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2023 found that network firewalls are one of the most common security measures, with 72% of businesses using one. But this number falls sharply for smaller businesses and charities, which is a worry. You can read the official government statistics for more details.

A firewall is the digital version of locking your front door. You wouldn't leave the office unlocked all night, so you shouldn't leave your network exposed to online threats that never sleep.

At the end of the day, picking the right firewall is a cornerstone of your security strategy. To dig deeper and make sure you're on the right track, check out this a practical guide to choosing the best firewall for small business. It offers a great breakdown to help you compare your options.

UTM vs NGFW vs Cloud: Which Firewall Is Right for Your Business?

Choosing the right firewall isn't about picking the "best" one on paper; it's about finding the right tool for the job. The three main contenders—UTM, NGFW, and Cloud Firewalls—each have their own strengths. Let's look at what sets them apart so you can decide which fits your business.

Unified Threat Management (UTM): The All-in-One Security Hub

Think of a Unified Threat Management (UTM) device as the Swiss Army knife of network security. It’s a single piece of hardware that bundles everything a small business typically needs: a firewall, antivirus, content filtering, and VPN access.

This all-in-one approach makes UTMs a fantastic, cost-effective choice for businesses with a single, central office. Instead of juggling multiple security products and subscriptions, you have just one box to manage. It keeps things simple, which is a massive plus if you don't have a dedicated IT department.

The only catch? Turning on every single feature at once can sometimes put a strain on the device, potentially slowing down your network. It's really important to pick a model with enough muscle to handle your internet connection and the number of people using it without causing frustrating bottlenecks.

Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW): For When You Need Deeper Control

A Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) takes everything a UTM does and adds a crucial layer of intelligence: application awareness. This is its superpower. It doesn't just see network traffic; it understands which applications are creating that traffic.

So, what does that mean in the real world? Say you want your team to use Microsoft 365 but need to block access to personal file-sharing sites like Dropbox or time-wasting social media apps. An NGFW can do that with pinpoint accuracy. It digs deeper into the data, giving you incredibly granular control.

This level of precision is essential for any business handling sensitive client data or working in a regulated field. An NGFW gives you far better visibility and stronger threat prevention, making it the go-to for tech-focused companies or those with strict compliance demands.

Of course, this extra power usually comes with a higher price and a steeper learning curve. But if you can't compromise on application control and advanced threat detection, the investment is well worth it.

Cloud Firewalls (FWaaS): Security for the Modern, Flexible Workforce

A Cloud Firewall, also known as Firewall-as-a-Service (FWaaS), ditches the physical box altogether. Your security lives entirely in the cloud, which is a perfect fit for today's remote and hybrid teams. It protects your staff whether they're working from home, a café, or a client’s office.

With FWaaS, you manage your security policies from a central dashboard, and they apply to everyone, everywhere. You don't have to worry about buying or maintaining expensive hardware, and it scales effortlessly. As your team grows, you just add more users.

This flowchart can help you visualise which path makes the most sense for your company's structure.

As you can see, office-based teams often find a UTM is all they need. Tech-heavy businesses benefit from the control of an NGFW, while remote-first companies need the flexibility of the cloud. If you're leaning towards cloud solutions, getting the security model right is vital. Our guide on cloud security best practices is a great place to start. Getting this first step right lays the foundation for your entire security setup.

Evaluating The Firewall Features Your Business Actually Needs

Once you've decided between a UTM or NGFW, the real work begins. The specific features of a firewall are what make the difference in the real world, but navigating a vendor's spec sheet can feel like deciphering a secret code. To find the right fit, you have to look beyond the marketing hype and focus on the capabilities that will genuinely protect your business from modern threats.

It’s a common pitfall. Many businesses get drawn in by impressive-sounding numbers that simply don’t hold up once the device is plugged in and running.

Performance Throughput: The Real Story

One of the most critical—and most misunderstood—metrics is throughput. This number tells you how much data can pass through the firewall at any given time. The catch? The headline figure you see advertised is almost always measured with all the important security features turned off.

As soon as you enable essential services like Intrusion Prevention, antivirus scanning, or web filtering, the real-world throughput can plummet by 50-70%. A firewall that looks fantastic on paper can quickly become a frustrating bottleneck for your entire network once it's actually doing its job.

Crucial Insight: Always look for the "threat protection throughput" or "UTM throughput" figures. This number reflects the device's performance with key security services running, giving you a much more honest picture of what to expect.

Core Security and Connectivity Features

A modern firewall is far more than a simple gatekeeper; it’s a command centre for your network’s defence. When you’re looking at NGFWs and UTMs, a key technology to understand is Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). This lets the firewall look inside the data passing through it, not just at the address labels, to spot hidden threats.

Here are the bread-and-butter features that deliver real, tangible protection every day:

• Secure VPN Access: With hybrid and remote work now the norm, providing secure access for your team is non-negotiable. Your firewall should support modern VPN protocols (like SSL VPN and IKEv2) and offer a simple way to manage user connections, ensuring your staff can work safely from any location.

• Intrusion Prevention System (IPS): Think of an IPS as a proactive security guard for your network. It constantly monitors traffic for suspicious activity and patterns that signal an attack. Instead of just raising an alarm, it steps in and automatically blocks the threat before it can do any harm.

• Content and Web Filtering: This is your tool for controlling what websites and online services your team can access on the company network. It’s essential for blocking malicious sites, preventing access to inappropriate content, and keeping everyone focused and productive.

Advanced Threat Protection

Cybercriminals never stop innovating, creating new "zero-day" threats that traditional security can’t recognise. The best firewalls for small businesses have evolved to counter these sophisticated attacks with more advanced, proactive features.

Sandboxing is a game-changer here. When your firewall sees a suspicious file or email attachment it doesn’t recognise, it diverts it to a secure, isolated virtual environment—the "sandbox." There, it can safely open the file and observe its behaviour. If it turns out to be malicious, it's neutralised long before it ever reaches a user's computer.

This kind of proactive defence is central to a modern security strategy. Instead of just reacting to known threats, sandboxing stops brand-new malware in its tracks. It's a key principle of the "never trust, always verify" approach, which you can learn more about in our guide on what is zero-trust security.

Finally, don't overlook manageability. The most powerful firewall in the world is useless if it’s too complicated to configure and maintain. Look for a solution with a clean, intuitive dashboard, clear reporting, and tools that make setting policies straightforward. This ensures you can actually make the most of the features you're paying for, without needing a dedicated cybersecurity expert on your payroll.

How to Match Your Budget to a Firewall Solution

Choosing a firewall is a critical investment, not just another business expense. To make a smart decision that protects your company without draining your resources, you need to understand the total cost of ownership (TCO). The sticker price of a firewall is just the start of the story.

To budget properly, you have to look past the initial hardware cost. The real cost comes from the ongoing subscriptions for things like threat intelligence updates, security service licences, and support contracts. Without these, even the best firewall becomes a useless box in a matter of months.

This is where so many businesses get it wrong. A cheap upfront purchase can easily morph into a long-term money pit if the subscriptions are expensive or the device needs a lot of technical hand-holding. The aim is to find a solution that delivers strong protection for a predictable, sustainable cost.

Entry-Level Solutions: Budget Under £800 Annually

For micro-businesses, startups, or companies with simple networking needs, an entry-level firewall provides a solid defensive starting point. This tier is all about securing a single small office with just a handful of employees.

At this price point, you’re looking at a quality Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliance from vendors like Zyxel or an entry-level model from Fortinet. These devices pack core security features into one box, giving you essential protection like a stateful firewall, secure VPN access, and basic web filtering.

The key here is to manage expectations. Performance is going to be modest, especially when you have all the security features turned on. These firewalls are perfect for a standard business internet connection but will likely struggle with very high speeds or a large number of people using them at once. Management is usually handled in-house, so it assumes you have someone with a bit of technical know-how.

Mid-Range Solutions: Budget £800 to £2,500 Annually

As your business grows, your security needs grow with it. This mid-range budget is the sweet spot for most small businesses with 10-50 employees and a moderate amount of sensitive data to protect. The solutions in this tier are a significant step up in both performance and protection.

Here, you'll find more powerful UTM and entry-level Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) appliances from brands like SonicWall, WatchGuard, and Sophos. These devices can handle much faster internet connections without slowing your team down, a concept known as threat protection throughput.

This is where you get access to more advanced features like sandboxing and granular application control. You’re no longer just blocking obvious threats; you’re getting a much clearer view of what’s happening on your network, which is vital for protecting customer data.

This budget also allows for comprehensive security subscription bundles, making sure your firewall is always armed with the latest threat intelligence. While you can still manage it yourself, this is often the point where partnering with a managed service provider becomes a cost-effective way to get expert configuration and monitoring.

Advanced and Managed Solutions: Budget £2,500+ Annually

If your business handles highly sensitive data, operates in a regulated industry, or simply can’t afford any downtime, you need a more advanced approach. This budget tier gives you access to high-performance NGFWs and, crucially, fully managed firewall services.

The hardware itself, from vendors like Palo Alto Networks or high-end Fortinet models, offers serious processing power and advanced AI-driven threat detection. But the real value here is offloading the sheer complexity of cybersecurity management. A managed service bundles the hardware, licensing, configuration, 24/7 monitoring, and expert support into a single, predictable operational cost.

This proactive approach is what stops sophisticated attacks in their tracks. After all, having a firewall is only half the battle. If it’s not configured and monitored correctly, you’re leaving huge security gaps open. UK-specific data shows the average cost of a disruptive breach can hit £8,260 for small firms, a serious loss that proper security could have prevented. You can learn more about these UK cybersecurity findings to better understand the risks.

For a small business, a managed service transforms your firewall from a complex piece of kit into a reliable security outcome.

Putting Your Firewall to Work and the Case for a Managed Service

Choosing the right firewall is a big win, but the real protection only kicks in when it's set up correctly. A firewall isn't a "plug-and-play" gadget; its power comes entirely from how it's configured, managed, and monitored.

A brand-new firewall straight out of the box will have default settings that are often way too open, leaving gaping holes in your security. The initial setup is where you turn your business's security policies into a rock-solid set of rules that the device will live by.

This isn't just about blocking a few dodgy websites. It's about meticulously defining what traffic gets a green light in and out of your network, who gets access to what, and how the firewall should react when it spots something suspicious.

The Problem with Going It Alone

Looking after a firewall is a full-time job. Cyber threats change daily, so your firewall rules can't be set and forgotten. A secure setup from six months ago could easily be a liability today.

This constant upkeep demands a very specific skill set and, crucially, a lot of time. For most small business owners, that's a huge ask. The expertise needed to properly manage a business-grade firewall is rarely in their wheelhouse, and finding the hours is even tougher. It’s no surprise that 76% of small businesses admit they don't have the in-house skills to handle their own security.

Some of the non-stop tasks include:

• Updating Policies and Rules: Constantly tweaking the ruleset to match new business needs and the latest threat data.
• Managing Firmware and Patches: Installing security updates from the manufacturer the moment they’re available to close any newly discovered vulnerabilities.
• Monitoring and Analysing Logs: Digging through endless logs to spot potential threats, weird traffic patterns, or early signs of a breach.

Dropping the ball on any of these jobs turns your security investment into a false sense of security, leaving the door wide open for an attack.

The Smart Move: A Managed Firewall Service

This is exactly where a managed firewall service comes in. Instead of piling complex security duties onto your team, you can partner with a provider like HGC IT Solutions to take care of everything for you, from setup to daily monitoring.

A managed service changes your firewall from being a piece of hardware you have to constantly worry about into a guaranteed security outcome. It takes the responsibility off your plate and puts it onto a team of experts focused 24/7 on protecting your network.

This route has some clear advantages. You get access to top-tier expertise without the massive expense of hiring a dedicated security specialist. Configuration, updates, and monitoring are all handled proactively by people who live and breathe this stuff. Your defences are always up to date and working as hard as they should be.

Working with a provider also makes your security budget predictable. A simple monthly fee covers the hardware, software licences, and expert management, turning a chunky, unpredictable capital cost into a manageable operational expense. It frees you up to focus on what you do best, knowing your digital front door is properly locked and guarded.

Ultimately, a managed service is a cornerstone of a strong, resilient IT setup. To see how this piece fits into the bigger picture, check out our guide on building a managed IT infrastructure.

Common Questions About Small Business Firewalls

It's one thing to compare features on a spec sheet, but quite another to figure out how a firewall fits into your day-to-day business. You've probably still got a few practical questions knocking around. Let's tackle some of the most common ones we hear from business owners.

Getting these last few details straight is often the final step before you can confidently choose the right protection.

Is The Firewall In My Internet Router Enough For My Business?

In a word: no. While that basic firewall in your broadband router is better than nothing, it's absolutely not sufficient for a business. Think of it as a simple lock on your front door. It stops someone from just wandering in, but it won't stop a determined intruder.

These built-in firewalls offer only the most basic protection, usually just blocking unwanted incoming traffic. They can't see the sophisticated threats hiding inside legitimate-looking data. A proper business firewall adds multiple layers of security, like Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS), content filtering, and secure VPNs for your team. Relying only on a router is like locking the door but leaving all the ground-floor windows wide open.

Do I Still Need A Firewall If My Employees Work Remotely?

Yes, and you arguably need one even more. When your team is spread out, working from home or on the road, you've suddenly got dozens of new doorways into your company network. A central firewall is the only way to protect your business's core data and systems from threats that could piggyback on those remote connections.

Modern firewalls, especially NGFWs and cloud-based solutions, are designed for this reality. They use secure VPNs to create a protected tunnel from your employees' devices right back to the office network. This means every connection is inspected and secured, no matter where your team logs in from, closing the huge security gaps that remote work can create.

A firewall acts as your central security gatekeeper in a remote work setup. It ensures your security rules are applied to everyone, protecting company data no matter where it's being accessed from.

How Often Should My Business Firewall Be Updated?

Constantly. It's not a one-and-done setup. Firewall maintenance involves two key types of updates: firmware updates from the manufacturer to patch security holes in the device itself, and threat intelligence updates (often part of a subscription) that keep its database of viruses, malware, and attack patterns up to date.

Cyber threats change by the hour, so your defences have to keep up. A single missed patch can be the exact vulnerability an attacker is looking for. This is one of the main reasons so many small businesses opt for a managed firewall service—it guarantees that an expert is handling all those critical updates the moment they become available.

Ready to secure your business without the headache? The expert team at HGC IT Solutions provides fully managed firewall services. We handle the configuration, monitoring, and updates so you can focus on running your business. Discover how we can protect your network today.