Top 12 Firewall Audit Software & Integration-Based Comparison

As the Chief Information Security Officer of a fintech platform, compliance with standards like PCI DSS is a top priority for me. Also, nearly all firewall breaches stem from configuration errors, not the firewalls themselves.¹ Since firewall audit software facilitate compliance & improve our security posture, I have reviewed all major solutions. See the top 12 solutions & click the links to see my rationale:

Firewall audit software helps validate compliance and manage firewall configurations. Explore top firewall audit tools along with their ticketing systems integrations, firewall compatibility, detailed comparison, as well as customer satisfaction metrics like the number of reviews:

Comparing the top 12 firewall audit software vendors

Table 1. Vendor comparison based on market presence

Table 2. Vendor comparison based on key features

* Based on data from B2B review platforms like G2, Gartner, and TrustRadius. For more: Market presence criteria explained

** Based on data from LinkedIn

To understand features: Features and integrations explained

If you are looking for firewall compliance of industry regulations such as GDPR and HIPAA, read Key Components of Firewall Compliance.

Table 3. Firewall compatibility of firewall audit software

Ranking: Products are ranked based on the number of reviews across B2B review platforms except for the sponsored products ranked at the top.

Firewall audit tool inclusion criteria:

• Offering firewall audit and compliance products along with other network security offerings.
• Integration with security information and event management (SIEM) platforms. This integration enhances the overall security posture by providing timely analysis of security events.

Firewall inclusion criteria in firewall compatibility table: Firewall vendors with 1000+ reviews on Gartner were included.

This article covers enterprise-focused solutions. If you are looking for free alternatives for your small business, check out open source firewall audit tools.

In-depth product analysis

FireMon Policy Manager

FireMon Policy Manager automates firewall policy work across on-prem and cloud environments. It’s built for large, mixed (multi-vendor) networks.

• Compliance: The tool automates compliance checks and generates audit reports quickly. It also detects potential violations before changes are implemented.
• Change management: Built-in workflows help teams create and modify firewall rules accurately, reducing the chance of misconfigurations that could disrupt access or security.
• Risk management: FireMon identifies rules that may increase risk, models potential attack paths, and provides recommendations to address vulnerabilities.
• Visibility: A centralized rule repository gives real-time insight into devices, rules, and cloud security groups. Its search function enables users to locate policies across the network.
• Policy lifecycle: Automated reviews ensure that outdated or unnecessary rules are removed or updated in accordance with compliance requirements.
• Integration and scalability: The platform integrates with IT service management and vulnerability scanning tools, enabling the efficient management of large-scale environments.

Overall, FireMon Policy Manager supports consistent, compliant, and transparent firewall policy management for complex networks.

Tufin Orchestration Suite

Tufin is highly advantageous in ease of deployment, identity-based rules, offering flexible IP block management, strong traffic engineering, almost real-time reporting, and effective rule violation alerts. However, Tufin has some licensing and subscription model disadvantages and custom report generation is limited.

Figure 1. Tufin’s SecureTrack reporting dashboard

Apart from firewall audit, Tufin offers these capabilities:

• Compliance: Tufin automatically checks each network change for compliance and potential risks before implementation. This helps prevent downtime, data breaches, and policy violations.
• Audit automation: The platform generates detailed audit reports in minutes and maintains a full record of all policy changes, making it easier to demonstrate compliance when required.
• Ad hoc audits: Security teams can run on-demand audits to identify unauthorized access or non-compliant rules and fix them quickly.
• Change tracking: Every modification to network policies is logged, creating a transparent history that supports both internal reviews and external audits.
• Rule remediation: Non-compliant firewall rules are detected and adjusted automatically to maintain continuous alignment with standards.
• Trend monitoring: Tufin tracks compliance trends over time, helping organizations identify recurring issues and measure improvement.

Overall, Tufin Orchestration Suite supports consistent, automated, and transparent compliance management for dynamic, multi-layered network environments.

AlgoSec Firewall Analyzer

AlgoSec helps with firewall audits by automating compliance checks and report generation. Its platform integrates with firm network to produce audit-ready reports for standards like PCI-DSS, HIPAA, and SOX with minimal manual effort, although it struggles with vulnerability management and can become cumbersome due to excessive reporting and static analysis.

AlgoSec continuously monitors firewall configurations, flags non-compliant rules, and maintains detailed audit trails for transparency. This approach helps organizations reduce audit preparation time, minimize compliance risks, and ensure consistent alignment with internal and external requirements.

Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Platform

The Qualys Enterprise TruRisk Platform provides a cloud-based platform for monitoring compliance requirements and managing risk, including Policy Compliance, File Integrity Monitoring, and Cloud Security Posture Management.

ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer

ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer provides firewall logs analytics and configuration management for multi-vendor firewalls without requiring agents. It helps administrators track bandwidth use, analyze firewall rules, and monitor user activity across VPNs, proxies, and web categories.

The platform automates continuous compliance reporting, tracks configuration changes, and maintains a full firewall audit trail for transparency. With real-time alerts and detailed forensic analysis, it supports better visibility, faster investigations, and stronger overall network security.

Palo Alto Networks Panorama

Panorama is a centralized management system for Palo Alto firewalls, offering a unified view of device configurations and policy changes. It records administrator activity through audit logs, which are usable for tracking changes and investigations.

The system supports large-scale deployments by allowing templates and device groups to enforce consistent policies across many firewalls. In terms of audit and compliance, Panorama captures configuration history, supports log forwarding (e.g., to a syslog server), and provides traceability that helps with both internal reviews and external audits.

SolarWinds Security Event Manager

SolarWinds Security Event Manager (SEM) centralizes log collection from firewalls, routers, switches, and other network devices across multiple vendors. It correlates events in real time to help detect configuration changes, unauthorized access, or suspicious traffic patterns.

The platform includes more than 300 prebuilt audit report templates for standards such as PCI DSS, HIPAA, and SOX, simplifying firewall and router compliance checks. By maintaining detailed logs and audit trails, SEM supports faster investigations and more efficient compliance reporting.

AWS Firewall Manager

AWS Firewall Manager allows organizations to centrally manage and audit firewall rules across multiple AWS accounts and services, including AWS WAF, Network Firewall, and VPC security groups. It identifies overly permissive security group rules and helps remediate them through automated policies.

The tool also supports continuous auditing by detecting unused or redundant security groups and enforcing consistent security configurations across environments. This enhances network visibility and facilitates compliance across distributed AWS resources.

Cisco Defense Orchestrator

Cisco claims that Defense Orchestrator, the firewall rule review product, is designed to streamline policy management across Cisco firewalls and public cloud infrastructure. Best practices include implementing granular Access Control Lists (ACLs), defining strict security zones, and maintaining comprehensive logging for all network and management activities.

Titania Nipper

Titania Nipper automates the auditing of routers, switches, and firewalls to detect configuration weaknesses that could expose networks to ransomware or lateral movement. It analyzes device configurations against vendor hardening guides and regulatory standards, providing clear pass/fail compliance evidence.

Titania Nipper offers firewall auditing capabilities, generating detailed security audit reports on configuration issues and compliance gaps to bolster network security.

Skybox Firewall Assurance

Skybox Firewall Assurance automates firewall management across multi-vendor environments, helping organizations maintain compliance and reduce configuration risks. It analyzes rule sets, OS versions, and configuration data to detect vulnerabilities and ensure alignment with DISA STIGs and CIS benchmarks.

The platform continuously monitors firewall changes, normalizes policies for consistent oversight, and identifies redundant or obsolete rules.

Network Perception

Network Perception provides visibility into operational technology (OT) networks, helping security teams map firewalls, routers, and switches without impacting operations. It automatically generates up-to-date network topology maps, highlights access and segmentation risks, and supports compliance monitoring.

The platform enables teams to assess vulnerabilities, verify network zoning, and enhance their overall security posture. Network Perception operates offline, requires no agents, and provides a user-friendly interface suitable for both technical and non-technical users.

Comparison of 3 firewall audit software

See the benchmark table created by AIMultiple’s own experience:

Table 4. Firewall audit benchmark

Required effort for deployment and activation

• Tufin: Low🏆 – Tufin is relatively easy to deploy, particularly in smaller networks, and provides immediate value.
• Skybox: High – Skybox is complex to deploy and requires significant expertise and dedicated resources.
• Algosec: Medium – Algosec is somewhat easier to deploy but may be limited by its static nature and reliance on archived snapshots.

Workload on security/network teams

• Tufin: Medium – Tufin provides near real-time reporting and alerting, which can ease the workload if the network team is well-trained.
• Skybox: Low🏆 – Skybox excels in vulnerability management, integrating well with scanning tools, significantly reducing team workload.
• Algosec: High – The large volume of reports generated by Algosec can overwhelm teams, adding to their workload.

Ticketing tools integration

• Tufin: Wide Variety🏆 – Tufin integrates well with various ticketing tools, supporting automated deployment processes.
• Skybox: Narrow Variety – Skybox has no integration with ticketing tools.
• Algosec: Wide Variety- Algosec integrates well with various ticketing tools.

Detection of risky situations

• Tufin: High🏆 – Tufin provides almost instant notifications when risky scenarios are detected, ensuring high security.
• Skybox: High – Skybox’s strong vulnerability management capabilities contribute to effective risk detection.
• Algosec: Medium – Algosec is less effective in detecting risky situations, focusing more on reporting.

Automation support

• Tufin: High🏆 – Tufin supports automation, particularly in rule deployment and workflow management.
• Skybox: Med – Skybox offers automation in vulnerability management but less in rule deployment.
• Algosec: Low – Algosec is less dynamic and offers limited automation support.

Reporting

• Tufin: Medium – Tufin offers real-time reports but lacks customization options.
• Skybox: High – Skybox provides strong reporting, especially in large-scale environments.
• Algosec: High🏆 – Algosec excels in reporting with pre-built templates, making it the best in this category.

Features & integrations

One of the fundamental aspects to evaluate when selecting a firewall audit software vendor is the extent of integration it offers with other crucial cybersecurity and IT management systems such as ticketing systems.

Users should look for features such as comprehensive rule analysis, automated suggestions for rule optimization, integration with compliance requirements, and robust reporting capabilities. Common features include basic rule analysis and compliance reporting, while differentiated features like best-practice reports and built-in ticketing systems set it apart. Here are some other key integration points to consider:

1. Ticketing integration

Table 5. Ticketing system integrations

Integrating a ticketing system with firewall audit software is crucial for effective IT change management and streamlined workflow processes. By leveraging tools integrated with IT ticketing system, organizations can automatically manage tickets, ensure appropriate distribution, and escalate issues as needed, thereby eliminating the reliance on spreadsheets and reducing the risk of tickets getting lost in the shuffle.

For more information, read: ITSM Tools.

2. Deployment

The deployment model of a firewall audit tool is a crucial consideration based on the organization’s specific needs, infrastructure, and security requirements. Vendors should offer flexibility in deployment options to accommodate diverse organizational structures:

On-premises deployment: Some organizations may prefer the firewall audit tool deployed on-premises, providing them full control over the tool’s infrastructure and data.

Cloud-based deployment: Cloud-based deployment offers scalability, flexibility, and accessibility, allowing organizations to leverage the advantages of cloud infrastructure.

Hybrid deployment: Organizations leverage a mix of on-premises resources and cloud services in a hybrid deployment model, creating a unified and interconnected firewall audit system.

3. Real-time data

The ability to provide real-time data is a key criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of a firewall audit tool. Organizations need timely and accurate information to respond promptly to security threats. This capability enhances overall security risk by ensuring timely detection and mitigation of potential threats.

4. Firewall integration

Specific firewall brands and models, as not all firewalls may be supported, particularly older hardware with outdated OS versions, in addition to some open source alternatives.. Users should verify compatibility with specific firewall brands and models, as not all firewalls may be supported, particularly older hardware with outdated OS versions.

Market presence criteria explained

1. Number of Reviews

The volume of reviews available for a vendor or a particular firewall auditing tool can provide a good view of its user size.

2. User Ratings

User ratings provide a quantitative measure of customer satisfaction with a product or service. User ratings can reflect the tool’s efficiency in firewall security auditing, managing firewall rules compliance, and its ability to provide detailed risk assessments to prevent security incidents.

3. Number of employees

The size of a company’s workforce can indicate its financial stability, capacity for innovation, and ability to serve customers effectively. Larger companies often have more resources to invest in research and development, customer support, and marketing, which can contribute to their market presence. In network security, where specific support for firewall configurations, rule auditing, and network traffic monitoring is vital, the company’s size matters.

Key factors for effective firewall integration

Organizations must carefully consider several key factors to ensure successful and effective integration before embarking on firewall integration initiatives. According to NIST² , organizations should keep four considerations in mind regarding firewall integrations.

1. Compatibility with network infrastructure

One of the foremost considerations in firewall integration is assessing whether the firewall requires specific hardware components to seamlessly integrate within the organization’s network infrastructure. This includes evaluating factors such as power capabilities, network interface card (NIC) compatibility, backup device requirements, and other hardware specifications. Ensuring compatibility with existing network hardware is essential to prevent compatibility issues and optimize firewall performance.

2. Integration with existing security devices

Another critical consideration is determining whether the firewall needs to be compatible with other devices on the network that provide security or other services. This includes evaluating compatibility with intrusion detection systems (IDS), intrusion prevention systems (IPS), network access control (NAC) solutions, and other security appliances. Integration with existing security devices ensures comprehensive threat detection and defense capabilities across the network.

3. Logging interoperability

Effective firewall integration also entails evaluating whether the firewall’s logging capabilities seamlessly interoperate with existing log management systems. Centralized log management is crucial for monitoring security events, analyzing network traffic, and detecting potential threats. Ensuring logging interoperability enables organizations to consolidate security event data and streamline incident response processes.

4. Network impact and changes

Installing a firewall as part of integration efforts may necessitate changes to other areas of the network. Organizations must assess the potential impact of firewall deployment on network traffic, access controls, and overall network performance. Planning for network changes, conducting impact assessments, and implementing necessary adjustments (proper change management life-cycle) are vital to minimize disruptions and ensure smooth firewall integration as well as business continuity.

Resources for effective firewall integration

To enhance firewall integration effectiveness and address potential challenges, organizations can tap into three main resources and strategies:

1. Vendor documentation and community support

Consult vendor resources, including comprehensive documentation, dedicated support services, and customer community support. These resources offer valuable insights into firewall rules, integration protocols, and best practices, aiding in seamless deployment and management.

2. Local partnership support

Establish partnerships with local service providers to address on-site challenges promptly. These partners ensure swift, effective support for hardware issues along with software support, critical patching or updating its operating system, configuration adjustments, and other critical needs, minimizing downtime and enhancing integration success.

3. Third-party integrators and consultants

Collaborate with experienced third-party integrators or consultants specializing in firewall integration. These experts provide in-depth knowledge, tailored solutions, and ongoing support, ensuring optimal configuration and performance.

4. Training and certification programs

Implement training and certification initiatives for IT teams involved in integration and management. These programs equip staff with the necessary skills, and knowledge of security protocols, and compliance standards, empowering them to navigate complex integration scenarios effectively.

FAQ

Further reading

• Top Firewall Management Tools in 2024: Analysis & Comparison
• Guide to Effective Firewall Auditing
• Key Components of Firewall Compliance

If you need further help finding a vendor or have any questions, feel free to contact us:

Reference Links

1.

https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbestechcouncil/2024/12/17/the-consequences-of-network-security-complexity/

2.

NIST. Guidelines on Firewalls and Firewall Policy. Accessed: 18/April/2024.

Technical Advisor

Adil Hafa

Technical Advisor

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Adil is a security expert with over 16 years of experience in defense, retail, finance, exchange, food ordering and government.

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Researched by

Ezgi Arslan, PhD.

Industry Analyst

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Ezgi holds a PhD in Business Administration with a specialization in finance and serves as an Industry Analyst at AIMultiple. She drives research and insights at the intersection of technology and business, with expertise spanning sustainability, survey and sentiment analysis, AI agent applications in finance, answer engine optimization, firewall management, and procurement technologies.

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