4 answers
Muhammad Taha
Student
Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan
1
Question
Asked
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What is worth of Next Generation Firewalls in Cyber& Ai?
As previously i was into .Net development as my self pace passion and now i an curious about system's security and choose Firewall as my next topic..
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4 answers
Chandler Archuleta
Engineering Manager
34
Answers
Baltimore, Maryland
Updated
Chandler’s Answer
Next generation firewalls are the first line of defense in zero trust. They are also the first line of defense against AI cyber attacks. Did you know Cisco handles over 750 Billion connections per day. No amount of policy, training, or cyber hygiene can withstand that level of volume without firewalls. A great way to see the value and understand the operations necessary for large firewalls is your local large business or a security conference. Black Hat for example allows you to visit the network operations center during the conference. It is incredible first because of the volume and second the ingenuity of the people using it to practice for Def Con. It you have an opportunity to see it online or in person I would not miss it. One great place to get experience and possible jobs is at your local hackathon. The prizes can be significant and the experience invaluable.
Contact the network security center of your local large business and ask for a tour.
Look up a security conference like Black Hat to see if you can see a firewall up close.
Look to see if there are any hackathons in your area.
Chandler recommends the following next steps:
It seems very Logical explanation, Well what would you recommend for starters in Cyber.
Muhammad Taha
Sahida Khatun
Software Consultant and Analyst
135
Answers
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Updated
Sahida’s Answer
Next-Generation Firewalls remain a key part of cybersecurity. While AI is changing how we protect systems, firewalls are still needed to manage network access.
Is this a good career choice? Absolutely! But aim to learn more than just firewalls.
Companies today want experts who see the whole security picture, including:
- Basics of networking
- Firewalls
- Cloud security
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- SIEM tools
- AI-assisted threat detection
- Security automation
Think of a firewall as the main gate of a building. It’s crucial, but modern security also needs cameras, alarms, access cards, and guards. AI helps all these systems work together. With your programming skills, you’ll likely advance faster than those starting with just networking.
A possible career path could be:
.NET Development → Networking → Next-Generation Firewalls → Linux → Cloud Security → SIEM → Python Automation → AI for Cybersecurity → Security Engineer / Cloud Security Engineer / Security Architect
This path blends software development, cybersecurity, and AI—three areas expected to be in high demand for many years.
Is this a good career choice? Absolutely! But aim to learn more than just firewalls.
Companies today want experts who see the whole security picture, including:
- Basics of networking
- Firewalls
- Cloud security
- Identity and Access Management (IAM)
- SIEM tools
- AI-assisted threat detection
- Security automation
Think of a firewall as the main gate of a building. It’s crucial, but modern security also needs cameras, alarms, access cards, and guards. AI helps all these systems work together. With your programming skills, you’ll likely advance faster than those starting with just networking.
A possible career path could be:
.NET Development → Networking → Next-Generation Firewalls → Linux → Cloud Security → SIEM → Python Automation → AI for Cybersecurity → Security Engineer / Cloud Security Engineer / Security Architect
This path blends software development, cybersecurity, and AI—three areas expected to be in high demand for many years.
That's helpful, As I am already into ASP .Net Core development and have a basic Networking Course previously in my University Courses. This Career Path seems meaningful to me. Thankyou Sahida Khatun for your Guidance.
Muhammad Taha
Chinyere Okafor
Educationist and Counseling Psychologist
1433
Answers
Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Updated
Chinyere’s Answer
Hi Muhammad,
That's a great question. Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) are still very important, even as AI continues to change the cybersecurity field. They do much more than block unwanted traffic. They can inspect applications, detect suspicious behavior, help prevent attacks, and work with other security tools to protect networks.
Having said that, I would advice you to think of firewalls as one piece of a much bigger cybersecurity picture. Today's security professionals often need knowledge of networking, cloud security, identity management, threat detection, scripting, and sometimes AI-powered security tools. AI is helping security teams detect threats faster, but it hasn't replaced the need for people who understand how systems work and how to secure them.
Since you already have a background in .NET development, you have an advantage. Understanding how software is built can help you identify security risks that others might miss. Many employers value professionals who can combine software development skills with cybersecurity knowledge.
If you're interested in this area, start by learning networking fundamentals, how firewalls work, and basic security concepts. Then explore hands-on labs using platforms like pfSense or OPNsense, and learn about popular enterprise firewalls. As you grow, you can also study cloud security and how AI is being used in threat detection and security operations.
There's strong demand for cybersecurity professionals, and it's a field that continues to evolve. Stay curious, keep building practical skills, and don't feel that you have to choose between software development and cybersecurity. The combination of both can open up some very interesting career opportunities.
Best wishes!
That's a great question. Next Generation Firewalls (NGFWs) are still very important, even as AI continues to change the cybersecurity field. They do much more than block unwanted traffic. They can inspect applications, detect suspicious behavior, help prevent attacks, and work with other security tools to protect networks.
Having said that, I would advice you to think of firewalls as one piece of a much bigger cybersecurity picture. Today's security professionals often need knowledge of networking, cloud security, identity management, threat detection, scripting, and sometimes AI-powered security tools. AI is helping security teams detect threats faster, but it hasn't replaced the need for people who understand how systems work and how to secure them.
Since you already have a background in .NET development, you have an advantage. Understanding how software is built can help you identify security risks that others might miss. Many employers value professionals who can combine software development skills with cybersecurity knowledge.
If you're interested in this area, start by learning networking fundamentals, how firewalls work, and basic security concepts. Then explore hands-on labs using platforms like pfSense or OPNsense, and learn about popular enterprise firewalls. As you grow, you can also study cloud security and how AI is being used in threat detection and security operations.
There's strong demand for cybersecurity professionals, and it's a field that continues to evolve. Stay curious, keep building practical skills, and don't feel that you have to choose between software development and cybersecurity. The combination of both can open up some very interesting career opportunities.
Best wishes!
Mrinal Shrivastava
Technology and CyberSecurity Consulting at PwC
4
Answers
Updated
Mrinal’s Answer
Hi Muhammad,
Thanks for your question. Next-generation firewalls are still crucial for cybersecurity and serve as the first defense in a zero-trust system. They remain essential for protecting enterprise networks. Even with the rise of AI and AI-driven cyber attacks, these firewalls are still important, and main network providers are improving their capabilities.
While focusing on these firewalls is important, I suggest also exploring wider network security tools and features.
Since you're a .NET developer, here's a path you might follow:
1. .NET Developer
2. Learn Network Fundamentals
3. Move to Network Operations
4. Focus on Network Security (starting with Firewalls)
5. Expand to zero trust and advanced network security tools (like Software Defined Network, SASE, Cloud Networking).
Cybersecurity and network security skills are in demand and will keep growing. Keep learning, experimenting, and practicing. Hands-on experience can lead to many exciting opportunities for you.
Thanks for your question. Next-generation firewalls are still crucial for cybersecurity and serve as the first defense in a zero-trust system. They remain essential for protecting enterprise networks. Even with the rise of AI and AI-driven cyber attacks, these firewalls are still important, and main network providers are improving their capabilities.
While focusing on these firewalls is important, I suggest also exploring wider network security tools and features.
Since you're a .NET developer, here's a path you might follow:
1. .NET Developer
2. Learn Network Fundamentals
3. Move to Network Operations
4. Focus on Network Security (starting with Firewalls)
5. Expand to zero trust and advanced network security tools (like Software Defined Network, SASE, Cloud Networking).
Cybersecurity and network security skills are in demand and will keep growing. Keep learning, experimenting, and practicing. Hands-on experience can lead to many exciting opportunities for you.