Illustrative product stack

Network & Firewall Security Stack

Organisations rely on office firewalls, cloud controls, remote access and site connections that often grew at different times. Ageing policies, exposed services and flat internal networks can leave unnecessary paths between users, sites and business systems.

This page shows possible product roles and alternatives, not a fixed bill of materials. Final selection depends on your existing infrastructure, risk profile, budget, licences, technical requirements and compatibility.

Discuss This Solution Request a Technology Consultation

The business problem

Why this security area matters

Network security controls how locations, users, applications and workloads communicate. A well-scoped design can reduce unauthorised access, clarify segmentation and make policy ownership easier to manage without introducing competing appliances by default.

How organisations become exposed

Common exposures include end-of-support edge devices, broad VPN access, unreviewed firewall rules, unsegmented networks and unclear boundaries between IT, cloud and industrial environments. Changes also carry availability risk and must be planned with service owners.

Who should consider this stack?

Organisations renewing a firewall, adding branches, migrating workloads, supporting remote users or improving IT/OT boundaries, especially multi-site UK businesses and public-sector bodies.

How to compare options

• Compatibility with existing infrastructure and licences.
• Security requirements, coverage and integration needs.
• Operational overhead, alert ownership and support requirements.
• Implementation effort and budget, confirmed in a tailored proposal.

Inside the stack

Possible components and their roles

A candidate configuration for discussion. Core options, alternatives and optional layers are labelled so competing products are not presented as a default bundle.

Layer 01core option

Check Point

Quantum Security Gateways

Next-generation firewall

Vendor info reviewed 2026-10-28

Official product information ↗

Role

Inspect and control network traffic at suitable perimeter or internal boundaries.

How it fits & relationship

Can anchor network policy; complements identity, endpoint and cloud controls.

Authorised UK Check Point partner

Product names checked against the vendor's site on 2026-10-28. Availability subject to vendor licensing, region and terms; contact AOS to confirm current options.

Layer 02core option

Check Point

Spark appliances

Branch and smaller-site firewall

Vendor info reviewed 2026-10-28

Official product information ↗

Role

Consider for smaller sites or branch deployments within the Check Point portfolio.

How it fits & relationship

Alternative form factor within the Check Point network design; not a second competing firewall.

Authorised UK Check Point partner

Product names checked against the vendor's site on 2026-10-28. Availability subject to vendor licensing, region and terms; contact AOS to confirm current options.

Layer 03alternative

Sophos

Sophos Firewall

Next-generation firewall

Vendor info reviewed 2026-10-28

Official product information ↗

Role

Alternative firewall option to evaluate against the current estate.

How it fits & relationship

Choose instead of another primary firewall where fit and commercial route are confirmed.

Technology ecosystem; no partner authorisation claimed

Product names checked against the vendor's site on 2026-10-28. Availability subject to vendor licensing, region and terms; contact AOS to confirm current options.

Layer 04optional

Microsoft

Azure Firewall and Microsoft cloud network controls

Cloud network protection

Vendor info reviewed 2026-10-28

Official product information ↗

Role

Potential native controls for Microsoft Azure environments.

How it fits & relationship

Cloud-specific controls complement rather than replace a corporate edge design.

Technology ecosystem; no partner authorisation claimed

Product names checked against the vendor's site on 2026-10-28. Availability subject to vendor licensing, region and terms; contact AOS to confirm current options.

Layer 05optional

AWS

AWS Network Firewall

Cloud network firewall

Vendor info reviewed 2026-10-28

Official product information ↗

Role

Potential AWS-managed network firewall service for selected AWS architectures.

How it fits & relationship

Complements AWS cloud networking and security controls; check rule-management and logging requirements.

Technology ecosystem; no partner authorisation claimed

Product names checked against the vendor's site on 2026-10-28. Availability subject to vendor licensing, region and terms; contact AOS to confirm current options.

How the stack works together

From visibility to continuous improvement

01Map sites, users, workloads and important traffic flows.
02Choose one primary firewall approach for each defined boundary; avoid deploying competing platforms without a documented requirement.
03Apply policy, segmentation and remote-access controls with owners and change plans.
04Connect relevant cloud-native controls where workloads need their own boundaries.
05Review rules, support status and access as the estate changes.

Example architecture to assess

A defined primary firewall architecture for the relevant sites, with a single central policy approach where supported, plus cloud-native controls for cloud environments and a separately scoped secure-access design. Check Point is the only confirmed authorised partner option on this site; assess the customer’s current products before recommending a change.

Alternatives and optional layers

Sophos Firewall, Microsoft cloud controls and AWS controls are possible options for their respective environments. Fortinet, Palo Alto Networks, Cisco and Zscaler are not represented as available AOS offerings or partnerships here; availability and delivery capability would need confirmation before recommendation.

How AOS can help

Advice, scope and delivery boundaries

AOS can assess requirements, review existing network exposure, advise on product fit and support agreed network security implementation and management within a confirmed scope. Hardware, licences, migration, circuit services and third-party delivery are confirmed in a proposal. A free 30-minute cybersecurity review is available as an initial discussion, not a penetration test.

Questions & answers

Frequently asked questions

Should we install two next-generation firewalls?

Not by default. Multiple products may add complexity and duplicate functions. Select a primary platform for each boundary unless a documented separation or resilience requirement justifies more.

Can one firewall protect our cloud workloads too?

Some platforms offer cloud products, but requirements differ by cloud and workload. Confirm products, licences, design and integrations for each environment.

Can AOS review our existing firewall?

A scoped review can consider current policies and requirements. Access, technical depth, deliverables and any testing are agreed in advance.

Related product stacks and services

Zero Trust, SASE & secure access →Cloud security →Vulnerability & exposure management →Technology Partners →

Find the Right Security Stack for Your Business

Every organisation has a different security environment. Talk to AOS Technologiies about your requirements and explore a technology stack designed around your business.

Discuss Your Requirements