12 Best Practices for Conducting a Corporate Firewall Review



A corporate firewall review assesses your organization's network security to ensure it aligns with your business requirements and risk tolerance, minimizing the chances of cyberattacks.

Modern businesses often use multiple firewall vendors with varying configurations, making it challenging to maintain a consistent cybersecurity posture. Annual firewall reviews should be a key part of your network security strategy to meet evolving data protection requirements.

1. Define Audit Objectives and Scope

Begin by clarifying the purpose and scope of the audit. Common objectives include:

  • Compliance Documentation: Adhering to standards like PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, SOX, NIST, or NERC CIP.
  • Attack Surface Reduction: Removing outdated or unnecessary rules.
  • Performance Optimization: Streamlining rules to improve network speed.

2. Understand Network Topology

Understanding your network’s topology is essential for effective firewall reviews. Key focus areas include:

  • Security zones like DMZs.
  • Locations and connectivity of firewalls.
  • Firewall roles and manufacturers.

3. Gather Relevant Documentation

To facilitate a comprehensive review, compile:

  • Security policies outlining best practices.
  • Firewall logs detailing activity such as protocols and IPs.
  • Risk assessments identifying and addressing vulnerabilities.
  • Rulesets specifying firewall configurations.
  • Previous audit reports highlighting findings and recommendations.

4. Evaluate Firewall Rule Placement and Order

Firewall rules should be logically arranged to prioritize security:

  • Allow Specific Traffic: Precise rules specifying source/destination IPs, ports, and protocols.
  • Block by Default: Reducing risks from unnecessary traffic.

5. Identify and Remove Unused Objects

Unused objects, such as services or user groups not defined in the ruleset, pose security risks. Regularly review and eliminate these objects to reduce vulnerabilities.

6. Analyze Access Control Lists (ACLs)

ACLs determine the traffic allowed into your internal network. Overly permissive ACLs increase risks. Best practices include:

  • Limiting source and destination traffic.
  • Avoiding “any-to-any” rules.
  • Restricting globally open ports.

7. Review User Roles and Access Privileges

Ensure user access follows the principle of least privilege. Key checks include:

  • Consistency of roles and permissions across firewalls.
  • Timely revocation of terminated users’ access.
  • Limited admin access to firewall consoles.

8. Assess Change Management Procedures

Structured change management processes are critical for tracking and approving configuration changes. A robust review should document:

  • Risks and impacts of policy changes.
  • Remediation strategies.
  • Detailed audit trails of who made changes and why.

9. Secure Firewall Hardware and Firmware

Firewall vulnerabilities can expose your network to attacks. Regularly:

  • Scan for and address vulnerabilities.
  • Prioritize updates for high-risk issues.
  • Ensure compliance with organizational vulnerability management policies.

10. Review and Analyze Firewall Logs

Firewall logs are vital for monitoring network activity and identifying threats. Key events to track include:

  • Permitted, blocked, and dropped connections.
  • User activity and protocol usage.
  • IDS/IPS activity.
    Analyze logs to identify trends such as anomalous traffic patterns and update blocklists or allowlists accordingly.

11. Revisit Risk Assessment Documentation

Document risk assessments before and after making security changes. Best practices include:

  • Evaluating potential risks to business continuity.
  • Conducting “what-if” analyses for changes to access controls.
  • Ensuring alignment with change management protocols.

12. Remediate and Test New Rules

Address any issues identified during the audit and rigorously test new firewall configurations before deploying them network-wide. This minimizes operational disruptions.

Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

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