Why does router vs firewall really only matter at work?

Routers and firewalls are network security devices, sometimes grouped into business and home network packages or sold separately as dedicated hardware.

Although the two are closely related, routers and firewalls are very different devices.

• Router: Exchanges data between networks or gateways.
• Firewall: Blocks traffic from secure networks.

Simply put, routers connect networks and transfer data efficiently, while firewalls protect the network by controlling and securing the flow of data.

For home networks, most people already have a router with a built-in firewall. Under normal circumstances, they do not need to have additional firewalls to protect their networks.

On the other hand, businesses typically have more than one router and benefit from having a separate firewall device or application. Thoughtful deployment of both elements is an important part Securing a Business Network,

Main differences between router and firewall

Here’s a quick overview of the main differences between a router and a firewall:

Network Role: Routers and firewalls serve different purposes in a network. A router connects networks and ensures that data travels efficiently between them, like a VoIP router for voice traffic. A firewall, on the other hand, is like a security checkpoint, which inspects and filters data to prevent potential threats.

traffic management: Routers focus on determining the best path for data to reach its destination, directing traffic based on IP address. Firewalls control traffic by enforcing security rules, deciding what data is allowed to pass or blocked based on factors such as source, destination, and content.

Default behavior: By default, routers allow all data to pass unless specific restrictions are added. Firewalls take the opposite approach: they block most traffic unless explicitly permitted, prioritizing security over openness.

Placement: Routers are usually located at the edge of a network to connect to the Internet or other networks. Firewall can be placed at the edge or internally to control access between segments by adding additional layers of security within the network.

Customization and Control: Firewalls are built for granular control, letting you enforce security policies based on specific applications, users, or behaviors. Routers, while configurable, prioritize speed and efficiency over detailed filtering.

Why doesn’t router vs firewall matter on a home network?

Most routers have a built-in firewall that provides basic security for homes and very small offices. Typically this is a stateful firewall capable of inspecting traffic flow and performing basic perimeter security.

Because routers already have a firewall installed, the average home network does not need a separate or additional firewall. These simple networks consist of a handful of devices connected to a single router, and the integrated firewall is enough to keep the network safe from unwanted traffic and prevent unauthorized users from gaining access to the network.

On top of this, modern devices have their own built-in firewalls. Windows Defender and Android Firewall are two common examples.

From the moment your ISP turns on the Internet at your home, every device connected to the router is already protected from the public Internet by multiple firewalls.

If you’re doing anything different than usual at home – like running a business with sensitive information or hosting a game server – it will be important to install more advanced software or hardware firewall protection.

People with a lot of IoT (Internet of Things) devices on a home network may also consider additional firewall protection as one of the ways to reduce the IoT attack surface.

But outside of edge-cases, you don’t really need to compare routers vs firewalls – you probably already have both.

Why does Router vs Firewall matter so much for business?

On business networks, lots of devices are constantly logging in and out using cloud applications and potentially connecting to offices in other locations over wide area networks (WANs).

Unlike simple home networks, business networks consist of multiple routers (and many other elements) that connect physical and virtual resources to users. Routers play an important role in this Establishing an Effective Network Security ArchitectureAnd while they may have built-in firewall functionality, businesses often have dedicated hardware and/or software firewalls.

Organizations need to protect their connected devices from virus and malware threats, as well as sophisticated security concerns that would never impact home networks.

Business-grade firewalls provide detailed control over traffic, meaning managers can control access differently for different users and applications. This is important when you have protected resources on the network that you need to make available to the public, remote workers, or third-parties.

This access control is centralized across a business firewall security policyWhich a network manager can see and control. Many businesses also deal with payment information moving in and out of their networks for customer purchases or employee salaries, so their systems are required to be HIPAA and PCI-DSS-compliant – which comes with consumer-grade firewall technology. Togetherness is not always possible.

Businesses have other considerations as well, such as whether their routers or firewalls should be placed at the network edge. Edge routers are commonly used to provide access to remote workers so they can connect to the corporate network. In fact, the terms “edge router” and “firewall” are often used to describe a network security device that protects the LAN from the “middle” point of the network.

Can a router and firewall be on the same device?

Some software-defined networks and routers come equipped with a pre-installed software firewall. Some businesses prefer this because of the simplicity of integrating the two. There is no point in having multiple devices that need to be individually configured and managed, especially when each comes with its own potential setbacks.

Still, for some businesses, the extra labor to keep the equipment separated is worth it. For example, when a router needs to route traffic to intended destinations, it will have much more resources than one that doubles as the network’s firewall.

Similarly, if your network begins to stutter, a single router-firewall device will not be able to know how to share limited network resources most efficiently. Depending on unique network conditions, this may cause VoIP calls to be dropped, video conferences to be delayed, or even be a security risk.

Finally, having a dedicated firewall lets you be more specific about what you want that firewall to do – and how you want it to do it. Most businesses use both stateless and stateful firewalls and require a high level of configuration over firewall rules.