IT Projects and Short Security Timeframes

I entered the game way back in 93 as a network admin when multiplexers were the shit and voice/data together on PSTN lines was that shit. Since then, I’ve seen it all, a site with no other way to connect other than a ISP really hoping someone wasn’t flushing their toilet, as this would destroy communications for the dialup connection. I will never forget just getting blindsided by the Slammer worm one day in the early 2000s — no firewall, just rolling the dice on good luck and patch updates.

Now, with betweenness-centrality measures to guide her, the stakes are much higher — and the tech much more advanced. But, here’s the thing: not all security has to be a 10-year investment. This is particularly so with temporary IT projects—the likes of short-term test environments, pop-up offices or fintech pilots—which call for a flexible and reliable cybersecurity solution.

Enter the Firewall Rental

If you only have a brief requirement, there is no need for you to be troubled by the long term cost of purchasing a hardware firewall because, for your short term security needs, you can rent a firewall and expect full protection without the ball and chain of having to worry about costs of hardware and maintenance.

Price vs Purchase for Temporary Use

I get it, the knee jerk reaction of many CIOs and IT managers: Why rent when we can buy? But for short-term setups? For beginners and one-off projects, buying might be a waste of time and money, as you will overpay for equipment you are just going to squirrel away after the project ends. Firewalls are not like your usual software subscriptions, they are physical devices with large price tags, licensing fees, updates and boring ol’ config time.

Here’s my angle:

• There is minimal upfront convenience costs because you are only billed for what you use, when you use it.
• No need to Fear obsolescence or resale value — rentals are all the latest tech, handled by the pros.
• Ability to expand and contract as projects require. No locked-in commitments.
• Maintenance, updates and support built into the rental service.

And yes, I’ve watched companies squander thousands buying gear for a six-week project. Watching that was akin to buying a Porsche just to run the groceries once a month. Doesn’t add up.

Quick Deployment Benefits

I mean, nothing kills momentum like waiting days — even weeks — for hardware procurement and setup. And when you’re managing multiple projects, that downtime, in damaged reputations and squandered dollars, can add up.

Renting a firewall? You get near instant provisioning. One minute your business or home network is exposed to vulnerabilities and attacks and the next you have a PJ Networks firewall blocking it all at the perimeter. I’ve recently assisted three banks in upgrading their zero-trust architecture— those zero-trust setups came with a requirement for bulletproof perimeter security, and they couldn’t wait. Rental gear provided immediate protection, while their long-term infrastructure assembled.

The beauty here:

• Pre-defined options based on your project specs.
• Firmware and patch management by vendor.
• On demand technical support to debug anything that goes wrong that disrupts the core project of your team.
• Mobility – if they ever decide to move the site, just take the firewall with you.

It’s cooking with a pre-measured spice kit versus grinding the whole spices mid-recipe. Saves you time and makes fewer screwups.

PJ Networks Feels Proud To Have PJ Networks’s Firewall Rental for Projects

We’ve been in the trenches at PJ Networks, and know that not one size fits all. Our firewall rentals service was, quite simply, a necessity’s mother. At that point I had spent decades working on everything from legacy network environments to modern zero-trust deployments and realized I wanted to give clients an option that was fast, relatively inexpensive and still secure.

Just last week I returned from DefCon’s hardware hacking village (I’m still jazzed up from those mind-expanding exploits). That made me remember how important it is to have good, flexible firewall setups — but not just for permanent infrastructure, but right here, right now, this project.

Our offering:

• Temporary firewall rentals that mesh well with your network.
• Flexible plans that can accommodate startups, banks or government pilots.
• Fast deployment, which allows you to get up and running.
• Real world attacks, defensive techniques, and yes some mistakes (I’m not perfect either).

I’m somewhat doubtful of all this AI-powered marketing hype—as awesome as that sounds, I didn’t see any AI doing the job of human intuition when making nuanced security decisions. Rentals provide you with both hardware and know-how.

Quick Take

Temporary IT Security? Renting a firewall is the way to go when it comes to cost, time, and strong defense.

Buying vs Renting? Unless you’re planning a decade-long project, there’s a smarter way.

Deployment? Ready in days, not weeks.

My experience says: Don’t overthink it — safeguard your project from day one by renting a flexible fire wall.

Conclusion

Here’s the real story: Cybersecurity is not a one and done thing. But your project might be. Casting in stone expensive firewall kit just because you’ve got 3-month pop-up office or a single experiment? Overkill. Leasing firewalls means you can size security to fit the job without spending a fortune.

I’m old enough to have seen the pendulum swing — from those early days of crude packet filters to today’s Byzantine zero-trust models. And in each case, the successful projects were the ones where security was agile and properly sized.

Finally, let’s talk password policies. I could go off on a rant, but I will say this: If your firewall does not tie into your your identity systems, you’re done. Rentals allow you to trial and adapt without buying in for the long-term with a specific vendor.

If you want to get granular — like, say, how to make a rental firewall work for your latest project — or simply nerd out about networking or the latest series of DefCon hardware hacks, you know where to look for me.

Sanjay Seth

PJ Networks Pvt Ltd
Security Consultant 1993 to present

Still with the coffee, and still learning.