What is the primary role of an NGFW in a secured cloud deployment?

In a secured cloud deployment, the primary role of a Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) is to consistently control access to applications and data based on user credentials. This capability is critical because it ensures that only authorized users can access sensitive resources, thereby enforcing security policies that protect the integrity and confidentiality of data within the cloud environment.

The NGFW operates at a much deeper level than traditional firewalls by incorporating features such as user identification and application awareness. This means it can analyze traffic based on the identity of the user, their role, and the applications being accessed, not just on the IP addresses or ports. This granular level of control helps organizations maintain a least-privilege access model, reducing the attack surface and ensuring compliance with security policies.

In contrast, while stopping malware and ransomware, enforcing security policies via WildFire or distributing policies to other services are important aspects of security in a cloud environment, they are not the primary function of an NGFW. The focus on access control based on credentials underscores the evolving nature of security, where user behavior and identity are pivotal components of effective protection strategies in cloud ecosystems.