Firewalls are responsible for protecting a company’s proprietary data and other IT resources from internal and external attacks on the IT network. Considering that business data is the most valuable asset that most companies possess, it is essential to have a strong, resilient firewall in place — one that is consistently upgraded to address the latest threats.

If your Chicago-based company is in the market for a new firewall solution, you have two choices for implementation: purchase firewall software and implement the firewall on an in-house model, or outsource your firewall needs to a provider of IT support in Chicago. Below are four of the primary benefits that come with choosing the latter option.

Access to New Technology
Outsourcing firewall needs to an IT support provider that specializes in network security consistently gives you access to the latest network security solutions. Because the competitiveness of the service provider within its market space depends on the quality of its services, the provider consistently implements newer, better technologies — at no cost to your company.

Offensive Approach to Network Security
Companies that implement firewalls in house often fail to upgrade the solutions to address the latest security threats. Instead, they wait until a security breach occurs before they upgrade in a meaningful capacity. Because a provider of IT support upgrades its services to account for new security threats, outsourcing firewall management helps to prevent this situation.

No Software Licensing Fees
Implementing a firewall on an in-house model requires you to pay a software licensing fee that can be quite costly, depending on the comprehensiveness of the solution. Receiving firewall management on a hosted model, in which the service provider owns and maintains the software, is an excellent way to dodge expensive licensing fees that drain the annual IT budget.

24/7 Proactive Monitoring
Because network security issues can crop up at any time, it is essential for companies that have a strong IT presence to monitor network security around the clock. As one would imagine, paying a third party service provider to perform proactive monitoring is far less expensive than performing it in house. This is one reason why many companies decide to outsource the service.

Need Assistance With IT Security?
If so, Stratosphere Networks is here to help. An industry-leading provider of IT support in Chicago, we can implement and manage a firewall solution that protects your company’s IT assets from the latest security threats. If you require a custom firewall, we can provide you with this product as well.

To schedule a free evaluation of your company’s network security needs, call us today at (877) 599-3999 to schedule a free consultation, or use our contact form. We look forward to assisting you with your network security needs!