FireMon study reveals trend towards AI in cybersecurity

Automation and AI-driven firewall policy management have become essential tools in cybersecurity and compliance strategies, as highlighted by a recent IDC InfoBrief sponsored by FireMon.

As organisational digital ecosystems continue to grow, the complexities involved in managing firewall policies across hybrid and multi-cloud environments are increasing. The IDC report discusses how enterprises can utilise automation, real-time visibility, and AI-driven security policy management to mitigate risks, enhance compliance, and boost operational efficiency.

The global firewall market revenue is anticipated to reach $15.3 billion by 2028, emphasising the critical need for automated security policy management in response to evolving cyber threats and regulatory requirements. The IDC InfoBrief reveals that 46% of CEOs see cybersecurity as their top technology investment priority, while 60% of organisations focus on reducing costs in security operations, indicating a demand for policy management solutions that effectively balance security and budget constraints.

Jody Brazil, CEO and Co-founder of FireMon, commented: "Today's organisations face expanding attack surfaces, regulatory pressures, and new operational complexities. This is where a proactive, integrated approach to firewall management can transform security strategies and empower technology leaders with the insights necessary to face modern threats and challenges confidently."

The research identifies challenges such as fragmented security architectures, outdated systems, and skill shortages that impede compliance efforts. These challenges align with FireMon's offerings, which integrate automation and real-time visibility into firewall policy management to improve operational efficiency, reduce misconfigurations, and allocate more resources to strategic security tasks.

There's a dual aspect to compliance that serves as both a regulatory requirement and a means for enterprises to differentiate themselves in the market. Proactive compliance management, supported by comprehensive firewall policy tools, can alleviate operational burdens and foster market trust. Organisations prioritising compliance reflect a commitment to security and reliability, potentially attracting customers who prioritise strong data protection practices.

Organisations across the private and public sectors must navigate an increasing array of compliance regulations globally. Emerging regulations, including the EU Digital Services Act, India's Digital Personal Data Protection Act, and different US state-level privacy laws, underscore the growing complexity of compliance. FireMon's solutions support continuous compliance, adapting to evolving regulatory requirements while ensuring operational efficiency.

As organisations grapple with tight budgets and rising security demands, the importance of automation in firewall policy management becomes apparent. The IDC InfoBrief finds that 60% of organisations prioritise cost reduction in their operational strategies, identifying automation as pivotal to achieving these goals. By simplifying manual processes and mitigating errors, automation not only cuts costs but also enables security teams to concentrate on high-value activities.

Furthermore, 29% of organisations consider automating policy management a priority in their move to the cloud. Effective firewall policy management involves simplifying and automating processes across hybrid environments to reduce complexity and enhance results. Automated solutions from companies like FireMon play a key role in improving security outcomes and operational efficiency by facilitating quicker, faultless changes and minimising downtime.

As more organisations adopt zero-trust principles and prepare for the inclusion of generative AI in their security workflows, scalable and automated firewall policy management becomes increasingly critical.

Brazil concluded, "These findings should be considered a call to action for organisations to rethink how they approach security. A proactive approach to cybersecurity starts with simplifying and enhancing firewall policy management. Compliance, risk reduction, cost optimization, automation, zero trust, and future AI tools fit together as part of a cohesive strategy that empowers security teams."