Security firms are starting to address the requirements of next generation applications with their software, responding to trends such as BYOD, the cloud and big data. Modernization introduces more complexity to the corporate network, and contributes to the creation of new security vulnerabilities as a result.

This also means that all business networks from small teams to enterprise operations are going to need to address their own security issues. In the enterprise-level IT security is a question of not just tracking and defending a border, but watching what goes across it on the way in and on the way out. Below is a list of options from the enterprise-level firewall space that you might look into for defending your network.

Check Point

Check Point is one of the two firewall market leaders that IDC named in a recent report. The company is responsible for AppWiki, a library of app signatures that integrates with Active Directory and comes with a local client that allows the admin to enforce corporate policies on user endpoints.

Palo Alto Networks

The second vendor that IDC mentioned in its paper is Palo Alto Networks. The firm recently announced the VM-Series firewall for virtualized environments, alongside a few other products including the mid-range  PA-3000 Series firewall hardware appliance.

SonicWall

SonicWall, which Dell acquired for a hefty amount earlier this year offers a firewall solution that couples deep packet inspection with a constantly updated database of apps and application functions. New signatures are automatically downloaded and implemented, a big plus for IT departments.

Cisco

Cisco, which established itself as the biggest vendor of switches and routers by revenue, is the fourth brand on our list. Its ASA 5500 Series firewall appliance leverages new architecture that allows for a new level of “application awareness” and user identification.

 Fortinet 

 Fortinet’s FortiGate devices run faster and better than that of its peers in the industry, according to company data, and the technology leverages protocol decoders to make a distinction between disparate applications and apply different policies to each.

McAfee

Last but not least is McAfee which built up a solid reputation as a security vendor even before the takeover by Intel. The company’s AppPrism firewall can tell which application is which regardless of port or protocol, and provides a high level of control that make it possible to block individual features of third party software.