What is a Firewall Cluster? All info at a glance

With a firewall you protect your system from unwanted network access. Firewalls can also work in a network or cluster, depending on the security concept. This method offers extra advantages and protection especially for critical systems. Find out what a firewall cluster is, how it works and what advantages the security technology offers.

Firewall Cluster: What you need to know

The firewall is usually an important aspect of the overall security concept. Depending on the system, a firewall can even represent a single point of failure. This is understood to mean a component in a system that, if it fails, paralyzes the entire system and all related business processes.

• To counteract this, so-called high-availability techniques are used, such as cluster operation.
• A firewall cluster is accordingly nothing more than an amalgamation of firewalls that protect a system and the data.
• Clusters come in different variants. In an active/active cluster, all security components are active simultaneously. In an active/passive solution, only one component is active, while the others are passive.
• When to use which type of cluster depends on the number of firewalls, the purpose of use, and the manufacturer.

Advantages of cluster operation

The major advantage of cluster operation is that if one of the firewalls in the cluster fails, the system and associated data remain protected and operational, and are protected by the remaining firewalls. Cluster operation offers advantages not only in terms of security, but also in terms of maintenance. For example, it is possible to shut down individual firewalls for maintenance or software updates without taking the entire system offline.