SMEs in India are often caught in a strange dilemma.
They invest in a firewall because “every business needs one,” but after installation, the device sits untouched for months—or even years.
Rules don’t get updated. Alerts go unread. Firmware isn’t patched. No one reviews access logs.
And then one day, something happens—an intrusion, an employee account compromise, an unauthorised VPN login—and everyone realises the firewall wasn’t doing much at all.
This is exactly why many SMEs are now turning to managed firewall services.
Not because they don’t trust the technology, but because they don’t have the time or in-house expertise to manage it properly.
Why SMEs Struggle with Firewall Management
A firewall is only as strong as the rules inside it.
If rules are outdated, overly permissive, or conflicting, attackers can slip through unnoticed.
Times of India recently reported a cyberattack on a Coimbatore-based SME where outdated firewall configurations left multiple ports open:
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/coimbatore/cyberattack-exposes-coimbatore-sme-firewall-flaw/articleshow/107649967.cms
The attackers didn’t do anything sophisticated—they simply took advantage of old access rules that no one had cleaned up.
What Benefits Do Managed Firewall Services Offer?
A managed firewall service provider typically handles:
- Rule optimisation
- Blocking malicious IPs
- Real-time monitoring
- Firmware & security patching
- VPN configuration
- Policy updates as the company grows
- Incident alerts and response recommendations
- Regular reporting
This is far more than “install and forget.”
It’s active security governance.
Can Outsourcing Firewall Management Reduce Costs?
Surprisingly, yes.
Here’s why:
- Hiring a full-time network security engineer can cost ₹12–18 lakhs per year.
- Firewall misconfigurations often lead to breaches costing far more.
- Outsourced plans usually cost a fraction of a single salary.
- SMEs don’t need enterprise-level hardware—they need enterprise-level management.
Plus, outsourced providers already have SIEM systems, threat intel feeds, and monitoring tools that SMEs can’t justify purchasing alone.
Case in point: A Hyderabad SME avoided a ransomware attack because its provider detected suspicious outbound traffic at 1:40 AM and blocked the device.
This was quietly reported by Deccan Chronicle:
https://www.deccanchronicle.com/business/companies/managed-security-services-smaller-firms-121123
Without outsourcing, no one would’ve been watching at that hour.
FAQs
- What benefits do managed firewall services offer?
Rule updates, monitoring, blocking malicious traffic, patching, VPN management, reporting, and quick response to threats.
- Can outsourcing firewall management reduce costs?
Yes—outsourcing eliminates the need for dedicated security staff and reduces the risk of costly breaches caused by misconfigurations.
