1. Select and Implement a Next Generation Firewall
Reduce security management complexity through consolidated solutions.

2. Launch the NGFW Project Select an NGFW Solution
Use this blueprint to support your next generation firewall selection and implementation
Launch the NGFW Project
Phase 1
Benefits
Use the project steps and activity instructions outlined in this blueprint to streamline your selection process and implementation planning. Save time and money, and improve the impact of your next generation firewall (NGFW) by leveraging Info-Tech’s research and project steps.
Select an NGFW Solution
Phase 2
Use Info-Tech’s NGFW Vendor Landscape, contained with Phase 2 of this project, to support your vendor reviews and selection. Refer to the use-case performance results to identify vendors that align with the requirements and solution needs identified by your earlier project findings.
Plan the NGFW Implementation
Phase 3
Not everyone’s connection and integration needs are the same. Understand your business’s integration environment and the unique technical and functional requirements that accompany it to determine the criteria and select a best-fit NGFW solution.

3. Stop! Are you ready for this project?
Your current firewall is not performing to expectations (whether or not you have actually suffered an issue due to it).
You are interested in a next generation firewall (NGFW) and need guidance on procurement and your options.
You have purchased an NGFW and are looking for best practices on implementation.
Your suite of separate perimeter security solutions is overly complex and costly to manage.
I am deciding if an NGFW solution will fulfill my needs.
I will be implementing an NGFW solution and I am determining which vendor’s solution is best for my organization.
I have an NGFW solution and I am deciding if I should stay with my current vendor or switch to a new player.
Network managers
Infrastructure managers
IT security manager (or a relevant position with influence on security spend)
Organizations looking to improve their overall security posture and layered network defences
Understand the costs and options for NGFW implementations.
Identify the correct NGFW use case.
Select the most appropriate NGFW solution.
Avoid implementation pitfalls.
Plan for effective system operations and management.

4. Prepare for moveable workloads. Security can’t be statically assigned
Prepare for moveable workloads. Security can’t be statically assigned. Rather, it must be able to move as your data moves. Choose a vendor that’s evolving and adapting to stay ahead.
Use innovative data displays to build your data flow model. Unique visualizations of data (demonstrating threats, heavy bandwidth usage, which users are using which apps, and being able to click to mitigate right away) help organizations get a sense of where their data is going and which threats to prepare for.
Throughput matters. You need to know how the solution will work with all of its features switched on. Know your traffic and scale appropriately.

5. Guided Implementation
Info-Tech offers various levels of support to best suit your needs
Guided Implementation
“Our team knows that we need to fix a process, but we need assistance to determine where to focus. Some check-ins along the way would help keep us on track.”
DIY Toolkit
“Our team has already made this critical project a priority, and we have the time and capability, but some guidance along the way would be helpful.”
Workshop
“We need to hit the ground running and get this project kicked off immediately. Our team has the ability to take this over once we get a framework and strategy in place.”
Consulting
“Our team does not have the time or the knowledge to take this project on. We need assistance through the entirety of this project.”
Diagnostics and consistent frameworks used throughout all four options

6. Best-Practice Toolkit Guided Implementations
Select and Implement a Next Generation Firewall – project overview
1. Launch the NGFW Project and Collect Requirements
2. Select an NGFW Solution
3. Plan the NGFW Implementation
Best-Practice Toolkit
1.1 Market overview and introduction to NGFWs
1.2 Structure your NGFW selection project
NGFW Procurement Project Charter Template
1.3 Gather and analyze your NGFW requirements
NGFW Use-Case Fit Assessment Tool
2.1 NGFW Vendor Landscape
NGFW Vendor Shortlist & Detailed Feature Analysis Tool
2.2 Select your NGFW solution
NGFW Vendor Demo Script Template
NGFW RFP Template
3.1 Implementation considerations
NGFW Implementation Tracker
3.2 Metrics
Guided Implementations
Identify organizational fit for the technology.
Create the project plan.
Plan requirements gathering steps.
Discuss the use-case fit assessment results and the Vendor Landscape.
Contract review.
Create an implementation plan.
Finalize success metrics.
Onsite Workshop
Module 1:
Launch Your NGFW Selection Project
Module 2:
Plan Your Procurement and Implementation Process
Phase 1 Outcome:
Launch your NGFW selection project.
Understand your organization’s NGFW requirements.
Phase 2 Outcome:
Selection of an NGFW solution.
Phase 3 Outcome:
A plan for implementing the selected NGFW solution.
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7. Measured value for Guided Implementations (GIs)
Engaging in GIs doesn’t just offer valuable project advice, it also results in significant cost savings. GI
Measured Value
Launch Your NGFW Project
Time, value, and resources saved using our guidance to determine if an NGFW is right for your organization:
1 FTE*1 day*$80,000/year = $320
Analyze NGFW Requirements and Shortlist Vendors
Time, value, and resources saved using our tools and Vendor Landscape for determining your NGFW requirements and shortlisting vendors:
1 FTE*5 days*$80,000/year = $1,600 (if done internally)
Time, value, and resources saved using our tools and Vendor Landscape for determining your NGFW requirements:
1 consultant*3 days*$2,000/day = $6,000 (if done by third party)
Select Your NGFW Solution
Time, value, and resources saved using our guidance and RFP templates:
2 FTEs*3 days*$80,000/year = $1,920
Time and effort spent right-sizing the solution to prevent under- or over-engineering the solution = reduced due to our RFP/quote review process.
Plan Your NGFW Implementation
Time, value, and resources saved using our best-practice guidance on implementation and transitioning to an operations team:
2 FTEs*2 days*$80,000/year = $1,280
Total Savings
$5,120 (internally) OR $13,600 (third party)

8. Next generation firewall selection workshop overview
Contact your account representative or for more information.
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Preparation
Workshop Day
Working Session
Workshop Preparation
Facilitator meets with the project manager and reviews the current project plans and IT landscape of the organization.
A review of scheduled meetings and engaged IT and business staff is performed.
Morning Itinerary
Facilitation of activities from Section 1 and Section 2, including project scoping and resource planning.
Conduct overview of the NGFW market, landscape, trends, and vendors.
Afternoon Itinerary
Begin conducting an inventory of the organization’s integration environment.
Map integration scenarios.
Identify integration patterns.
Complete IT inventory assessment.
Document architecture environment.
Make critical architecture decisions.
Document high-level solution requirements.
Perform a use-case scenario assessment.
Review use-case scenario results; identify use-case alignment.
Review the NGFW Vendor Landscape vendor profiles and performance.
Continue review of NGFW Vendor Landscape results and use-case performance results.
Create a custom vendor shortlist.
Investigate additional vendors for exploration in the marketplace.
Workshop Debrief
Meet with project manager to discuss results and action items.
Wrap up outstanding items from the workshop.
Procurement Support
The facilitator will support project team to outline the RFP contents and evaluation framework.
Planning of demo script. Input: solution requirements and use-case results.
The light blue slides at the end of each section highlight the key activities and exercises that will be completed during the engagement with our analyst team.

9. Use these icons to help direct you as you navigate this research
Use these icons to help guide you through each step of the blueprint and direct you to content related to the recommended activities.
This icon denotes a slide where a supporting Info-Tech tool or template will help you perform the activity or step associated with the slide. Refer to the supporting tool or template to get the best results and proceed to the next step of the project.
This icon denotes a slide with an associated activity. The activity can be performed either as part of your project or with the support of Info-Tech team members, who will come onsite to facilitate a workshop for your organization.
This icon denotes a slide that pertains directly to the Info-Tech Vendor Landscape on NGFW technology. Use these slides to support and guide your evaluation of the NGFW vendors included in the research.