The Best Firewalls of 2024: How to Choose the Right One

I have been in this industry long enough that I can recall when firewalls simply went from hybrids of ugly boxes facing ugly ACLs to integrated security platforms that did everything except brew me coffee (seriously, I would not be surprised if that was next). But here’s the rub—firewalls still lie at the very heart of a company’s security posture.

And in 2024? The plot thickens. More threats. More devices. That’s more pressure to the need to move to zero-trust architectures (which, by the way, is not just a buzzword — in the last year alone, I’ve helped three banks get their zero-trust setups in line).

So, let’s dive in. What are the top firewalls of 2024, and how might you choose the right firewall for your business?

Quick Take: TL;DR

If you don’t have time, read this:

• Best Firewall Of 2024: Fortinet FortiGate Series (powerful security tools, high throughput, and solid zero-trust support).
• Best for SMBs: Sophos XGS-Series (excellent security at a low price).
• Best for Enterprises: Palo Alto Networks PA-Series (best deep inspection and AI-driven security).
• For the least amount of fuss: Cisco Firepower (if you have any Cisco hardware already, this will integrate nicely).
• Best Budget Option: pfSense (free if you have some technical know-how to set up on your own).

So now, let’s dissect this a bit more.

Top Firewalls in 2024

Here, based on performance, security features, and real-world deployments, are my favourite picks:

1. Fortinet FortiGate Series: Best Overall Firewall

And this is what we do at PJ Networks, and for good reason. Modern threats and FortiGate Firewalls include enhanced deep packet inspection, AI-based threat intelligence (which does well here), and solid SD-WAN features.

• World-class threat detection and response
• Zero-trust network access (ZTNA) functionality
• High-performance throughput—ideal for scaling businesses
• Workable security material that integrates with Fortinet’s ecosystem

2. Best for Enterprises: Palo Alto Networks PA-Series

One of the industry’s strongest application-layer security can be found in Palo Alto firewalls. Their DPI engine is one of the most powerful available. You want to check these if you need fine-grained control over internal policies and traffic.

• Application ID technology for smarter traffic control
• Great sandboxing for malware detection
• Solid cloud and SaaS security integration

Honest take? If your IT guy is obsessed with perfecting rules defining your firewalls, this is it—but it’s excessive for SMBs.

3. Cisco Firepower – Easiest to Work With

If Cisco-built appliances are already in your stack, you can opt for Cisco’s Firepower lineup. It also does well for security—not the best malware protection, but good intrusion prevention, and it will be familiar to Cisco users.

• Out-of-the-box working with Cisco networking gear
• Automated threat response
• Reasonable at mid-to-large enterprise levels

4. Sophos XGS-Series: Ultimate for SMBs

Small businesses reading this—listen up. You don’t have to shell out ridiculous money for a firewall. Sophos provides great protection at a price SMBs can afford.

• Easy-to-use interface
• Good DPI & web filtering
• Competitive pricing

If network security is new for you as a serious business user, Sophos is a rock-solid choice.

5. pfSense – Best Budget Option

pfSense is the best open source firewall, which works best if you want a cheap or even free hardware firewall. But it is just for tech-savvy users. If you don’t have someone on the team with good networking knowledge, stay away.

• Absolutely free (self-hosted version)
• Extremely customizable
• Good open source security features

Feature Comparison

Firewalls: SMB vs Enterprise

Different businesses have different needs. Here’s what you need to know, depending on your size:

For SMBs (Small and Medium Businesses)

You are likely not a company with a security team. You’re probably weighing budget vs security. You want:

• Simplicity — You don’t want to be spending time micro-managing firewall rules.
• Great performance and affordable pricing.
• Native web filtering & machine health.

Best Picks:

• ← Sophos XGS-Series (for pricing and ease of use).
• Fortinet FortiGate 40F (if you want enterprise features without going enterprise).

For Enterprises

As businesses get bigger, they require more detailed control, deep packet inspection, automatic threat response, and zero-trust capabilities—particularly if you have hybrid workforces.

Best Picks:

• Palo Alto PA-Series (great deep inspection, not inexpensive).
• Fortinet FortiGate 600F+ (for performance vs. price balance).

October 2023: PJ Networks’ Fortinet Firewall Options

At PJ Networks, we are all about Fortinet because we believe in proven security—none of that “AI-powered automation” nonsense where you’re putting blind faith in black-box decision making.

Our picks for 2024:

• FortiGate 40F – Ideal for SMBs requiring robust security at an affordable price.
• FortiGate 100F & 200F – Best for production capabilities of mid-tier businesses with increasing security needs.
• FortiGate 600F+ – NGFW for enterprises serious about cybersecurity.

All of our firewall solutions include:

• ✅ IPS — & Deep Packet Inspection
• ✅ Enhanced threat protection (without undue complexity)
• ✅ Support for Zero-Trust integrations

And to be frank, if you haven’t adopted zero trust already, you’re behind and need to catch up quickly.

Conclusion

It’s not just about blocking ports anymore. Firewalls are the foundation of your cybersecurity posture—from protecting cloud-based workloads at a small business to enforcing microsegmentation at a global enterprise.

So which firewall should you buy?

• For small business: Sophos XGS or FortiGate 40F.
• You are looking for the best enterprise security: Palo Alto PA-Series.
• Already running Cisco networking: Cisco Firepower.
• If you are technically inclined and want a free solution: pfSense.
• If you need all-around security with zero-trust baked in: Fortinet FortiGate.

Now, if you’ll excuse me—I need another coffee. And maybe a sleep after writing this. But really—lock down your network before it’s too late.