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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsThere was no single best small-business firewall in 2022. For a security-conscious company with IT support, the Fortinet FortiGate 40F or 60F was the strongest default. Technically capable buyers had more flexibility with pfSense Plus or OPNsense; very small offices could consider Firewalla Gold or a Ubiquiti gateway; and SonicWall remained a conventional managed-SMB choice.
The important distinction is that these are not equivalent products. Some are full next-generation firewalls (NGFWs), while others are routers with firewall rules, open-source platforms, or prosumer appliances. Your best choice depends on bandwidth, users and devices, VPN needs, security requirements, administration, and recurring licensing costs.
What a small-business firewall actually does
A business firewall sits between the office network and the internet. At a minimum, it uses stateful filtering to track connections, blocks unsolicited traffic, performs network address translation (NAT), and controls port forwarding.
Commercial security appliances add capabilities such as:
#1 Best Overall
- Compact and Efficient Design: The FortiGate 40F is designed for small to mid-sized businesses and enterprise branch offices, featuring a compact, fanless desktop form factor that ensures quiet operation and minimizes space usage.
- Robust Connectivity Options: Equipped with 5 GE RJ45 ports, including 1 WAN port and 4 internal ports, this model provides essential connectivity and flexibility for various network configurations in a small-scale environment.
- High-Performance Security: Offers up to 1 Gbps IPS throughput and 600 Mbps threat protection throughput, using Fortinet’s purpose-built security processor technology to deliver industry-leading performance and protection for SSL encrypted traffic.
- Advanced Threat Protection: Integrated with Fortinet’s AI-powered FortiGuard Labs, the FortiGate 40F offers comprehensive cybersecurity, identifying and mitigating both known and unknown threats to maintain robust security across your network.
- Simplified Management and Deployment: Features a user-friendly management console that provides comprehensive network automation and visibility, coupled with Zero Touch Integration with Fortinet’s Security Fabric for easy deployment.
- Intrusion prevention and malware or botnet blocking
- DNS and web-category filtering
- Application control
- Remote-access and site-to-site VPNs
- VLANs for separating employees, guests, phones, cameras, and IoT devices
- Centralized logs, alerts, and reporting
- Dual-WAN failover and SD-WAN
- Role-based administration, configuration backups, and rollback
A basic router with firewall functionality may be entirely adequate for a tiny, low-risk network. It should not, however, be presented as equivalent to a subscription-backed NGFW with intrusion prevention, threat-intelligence feeds, and centralized security operations.
Quick recommendations
| Business profile | Best-fit 2022 option | Why it fits | Important caution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Security-conscious business with IT support | Fortinet FortiGate 40F or 60F | Strong branch-office performance, VPN, security services, and SD-WAN | Advanced protection generally requires FortiGuard services and skilled administration |
| Traditional SMB wanting a managed appliance | SonicWall TZ270 or TZ370 | Established SMB platform with VPN, filtering, and centralized deployment options | Licensing and renewals can be complicated and expensive |
| Technical owner or consultant | Netgate appliance with pfSense Plus, or OPNsense hardware | Flexible routing, VLAN, VPN, and multi-WAN features | The buyer assumes more responsibility for hardware, updates, and policy design |
| Very small office already using Ubiquiti | EdgeRouter X or a UniFi gateway | Low-cost routing and ecosystem integration | Not equivalent to a full subscription-backed NGFW |
| Microbusiness prioritizing usability | Firewalla Gold | Approachable setup, monitoring, segmentation, and VPN features | Less suitable for formal enterprise support, compliance, or large deployments |
| Complex or compliance-heavy environment | Cisco or Palo Alto Networks NGFW | Broad policy, integration, and security-platform capabilities | Usually excessive without a security team or specialist provider |
This product mix reflects the 2022 market coverage summarized by Digital Trends, but organizing the choices by deployment class is more useful than treating them as equal contenders.
How to size a firewall
Employee count is only a starting point. A 10-person company with a 2-Gbps connection, cloud applications, video meetings, guest Wi-Fi, and many encrypted connections may need more capacity than a 30-person office on a slower link.
Before choosing a model, estimate:
- Simultaneously active laptops, phones, tablets, cameras, printers, and IoT devices
- Current internet speed and likely growth over the next three years
- Remote VPN users and site-to-site VPN tunnels
- Number of VLANs and internet connections
- VoIP, video conferencing, and cloud-backup traffic
- Whether IPS, malware inspection, application control, or TLS inspection will be enabled
Fortinet’s SMB firewall-selection guidance similarly emphasizes throughput, growth, network architecture, and operational requirements.
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Do not compare throughput numbers blindly
Vendors commonly publish separate figures for basic firewall throughput, IPS throughput, threat-protection throughput, SSL/TLS inspection, IPsec VPN, concurrent sessions, and new sessions per second. These measurements are not interchangeable.
For example, the 2022-relevant FortiGate 40F specifications list approximately 1 Gbps of firewall throughput, 800 Mbps of IPS throughput, and 600 Mbps of threat-protection throughput. Those figures illustrate why a device’s headline firewall number may not represent its performance with security services active. Always compare the same metric, under comparable test conditions, and check the VPN figure if encrypted traffic matters.
Rank #2
- Single appliance with integrated firewalling, SD-WAN and Wi-Fi controller reduces complexity of WLAN management. Its zero-touch deployment helps optimize your onboarding experience.
- Built on a patented secure processor, this compact network firewall delivers the highest level of security and performance in its class – 800 Mbps IPS | 500 Mbps threat protection.
- User-friendly management console gives you centralized visibility and simplifies policy enforcement across your network. Its zero-touch deployment helps you optimize your onboarding experience.
- Compact and fanless design equipped with 4 GE RJ45 ports (1 WAN port and 3 internal ports) provide essential connectivity and flexibility for various network configurations in a small-scale environment.
- Fortinet is the most deployed and trusted firewall from businesses worldwide with 99.98% security effectiveness, surpassing competition. Fortinet is the only vendor recognized as a firewall leader 13 consecutive years by Gartner.
The best options by business type
Fortinet FortiGate 40F or 60F: best overall with IT support
The FortiGate 40F was a strong entry-level recommendation for a growing small or branch office in 2022; the 60F provided more capacity and growth margin. Fortinet positions the range as combining firewalling, SD-WAN, VPN, and security functions for small businesses and branch offices.
FortiGate’s strengths include intrusion prevention, application control, web filtering, VPN capabilities, security-service integration, and performance assistance from purpose-built hardware. It also fits organizations that may add sites or need a more consistent policy across locations.
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The trade-off is operational. The most valuable protection generally depends on paid FortiGuard services, and configuration is more involved than on a consumer-oriented product. A FortiGate is a poor value if nobody can patch it, monitor alerts, review logs, or restore its configuration safely.
SonicWall TZ270 or TZ370: best conventional SMB appliance
SonicWall’s TZ family was aimed at startups and growing businesses, offering a familiar appliance model with VPN, content and security services, centralized management, and deployment options such as zero-touch provisioning. The TZ270 and TZ370 are representative 2022 choices, subject to regional availability and licensing.
SonicWall can suit a company that wants a conventional firewall managed by an IT consultant or MSP. Its weakness is complexity around product tiers, security services, support, and renewals. Buyers should obtain the complete hardware-plus-services quote rather than judging the device by its upfront price. Vendor claims about machine learning or similar features should not be treated as independent evidence of superior protection.
pfSense Plus on Netgate hardware: best flexible platform
pfSense Plus combines firewall, routing, VPN, VLAN, and multi-WAN functions. Netgate makes it available on its appliances, virtual machines, and selected cloud marketplaces.
Rank #3
- 【Flexible Port Configuration】1 Gigabit SFP WAN Port + 1 Gigabit WAN Port + 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus1 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to four WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【Increased Network Capacity】Maximum number of associated client devices – 150,000. Maximum number of clients – Up to 700.
- 【Integrated into Omada SDN】Omada’s Software Defined Networking (SDN) platform integrates network devices including gateways, access points & switches with multiple control options offered – Omada Hardware controller, Omada Software Controller or Omada cloud-based controller(Contact TP-Link for Cloud-Based Controller Plan Details). Standalone mode also applies.
- 【Cloud Access】Remote Cloud access and Omada app brings centralized cloud management of the whole network from different sites—all controlled from a single interface anywhere, anytime.
- 【SDN Compatibility】For SDN usage, make sure your devices/controllers are either equipped with or can be upgraded to SDN version. SDN controllers work only with SDN Gateways, Access Points & Switches. Non-SDN controllers work only with non-SDN APs. For devices that are compatible with SDN firmware, please visit TP-Link website.
This is a strong choice for a technically capable owner, consultant, or internal administrator who wants control without depending on one proprietary security-service bundle for basic firewall operation. Netgate appliances such as the SG-2100 and SG-6100 were relevant to a 2022 buying guide, but their availability and specifications should be treated as historical rather than silently replaced with current models.
There is no such thing as a cost-free business deployment. Hardware, support, backups, monitoring, replacement planning, and staff time still cost money. pfSense also makes it easy to create complicated or insecure rules, so it is not automatically safer merely because it is flexible.
OPNsense: best open-source alternative for experienced administrators
OPNsense offers open-source firewalling, routing, VLAN, VPN, multi-WAN, and package capabilities on compatible hardware. Its modern interface can appeal to administrators who prefer flexibility and less vendor lock-in.
The buyer, however, is responsible for hardware compatibility, software maintenance, updates, backups, and support arrangements. OPNsense is better suited to a consultant or technically confident administrator than to an owner who expects consumer-router simplicity. Hardware, commercial support, and managed deployment should be included in the real budget.
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Ubiquiti EdgeRouter X or UniFi gateway: best budget ecosystem choice
Ubiquiti is attractive for a very small office that already uses UniFi switches and access points or needs inexpensive routing, VLANs, NAT, and basic site-to-site networking. The EdgeRouter X was a low-cost router with customizable firewall rules.
It should not be confused with a FortiGate, SonicWall, Sophos, Cisco, or Palo Alto NGFW. As the 2022 coverage noted, the EdgeRouter X lacks built-in anti-malware protection. Unified device management is not the same thing as unified threat prevention.
Rank #4
- 【Five Gigabit Ports】1 Gigabit WAN Port plus 2 Gigabit WAN/LAN Ports plus 2 Gigabit LAN Port. Up to 3 WAN ports optimize bandwidth usage through one device.
- 【One USB WAN Port】Mobile broadband via 4G/3G modem is supported for WAN backup by connecting to the USB port. For complete list of compatible 4G/3G modems, please visit TP-Link website.
- 【Abundant Security Features】Advanced firewall policies, DoS defense, IP/MAC/URL filtering, speed test and more security functions protect your network and data.
- 【Highly Secure VPN】Supports up to 20× LAN-to-LAN IPsec, 16× OpenVPN, 16× L2TP, and 16× PPTP VPN connections.
- Security - SPI Firewall, VPN Pass through, FTP/H.323/PPTP/SIP/IPsec ALG, DoS Defence, Ping of Death and Local Management. Standards and Protocols IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab, IEEE 802.3x, IEEE 802.1q
UniFi gateways and EdgeRouter products are also different product families. Check the specific gateway’s current support, security features, logging, and update policy rather than assuming every Ubiquiti product offers the same protection.
Firewalla Gold: best for an approachable microbusiness deployment
Firewalla Gold stood out for simple setup, accessible monitoring, segmentation, policy controls, and VPN features. It can be a practical fit for a microbusiness or technically inclined home office without a dedicated administrator.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →It is less appropriate where the organization needs formal enterprise support, extensive MSP tooling, complex multi-site management, or defensible compliance operations. Current Firewalla models and prices should not be backdated into a historical 2022 comparison; the 2022 Gold product and its availability should be evaluated in that period’s context.
Cisco or Palo Alto Networks: best for unusually complex environments
Cisco and Palo Alto Networks offer mature enterprise security ecosystems, integrations, policy controls, and segmentation capabilities. They make sense when a business already standardizes on one vendor, has demanding compliance or multi-site requirements, or employs a security team or specialist integrator.
For an ordinary small office with one internet connection, these platforms are usually excessive in acquisition cost, licensing, complexity, and operational overhead. “Enterprise-grade” does not automatically mean “best”: an appliance that the business can correctly configure and maintain may be the safer choice.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Features that matter most
Essential for most offices
- Stateful firewall rules and secure defaults
- Automatic firmware and security-signature updates
- MFA for administrators and VPN users
- Employee and guest-network separation through VLANs
- Configuration export, backup, and restore
- Logging and meaningful alerts
- Vendor-supported hardware, warranty, and replacement process
- Required remote-access or site-to-site VPN support
Valuable for growing or sensitive businesses
- Intrusion prevention, DNS security, web filtering, and application control
- Centralized management and role-based administration
- Dual-WAN failover and SD-WAN
- High availability with a second appliance
- API or automation support
- Integration with endpoint security, identity systems, or a SIEM
- TLS inspection where the organization can manage its risks and certificate deployment
TLS inspection is not a feature to enable indiscriminately. It can break certificate-pinned, banking, healthcare, or other applications; require endpoint certificate installation; increase processing load; and create privacy or legal concerns. Use exceptions, test carefully, and document the decision.
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- APPLIANCE ONLY: Hardware unit sold without a service subscription — security services, firmware updates and support are NOT included and must be purchased separately to activate protection.
- PERFORMANCE: Up to 2.5 Gbps firewall inspection, 1 Gbps threat prevention and 1.2 Gbps IPSec VPN throughput driven by SonicWall's patented Reassembly-Free Deep Packet Inspection (RFDPI) engine.
- CONNECTIVITY: 8x1GbE + 2x1G SFP in a desktop form factor; zero-touch deploy and manage on-box or via cloud Network Security Manager (NSM).
- THREAT PROTECTION: SonicOS 8 delivers intrusion prevention, gateway anti-malware, application control, TLS/SSL decryption, Capture ATP multi-engine sandboxing (RTDMI) and reputation-based content & DNS filtering with an active service subscription.
- BUILT FOR SMALL BUSINESS & BRANCH: Secure SD-WAN, IPSec and SSL VPN plus Zero-Trust Network Access through Cloud Secure Edge keep distributed sites and remote workers protected.
Subscriptions and the real cost
Commercial firewalls frequently separate the appliance from the services that provide threat intelligence, web filtering, malware detection, support, cloud management, advanced reports, and firmware entitlement. A low upfront price can therefore conceal a higher three-year cost.
Use this calculation before comparing quotes:
Three-year cost = hardware + installation + year-one subscription and support + year-two renewal + year-three renewal + monitoring + spare or replacement provisionFor Fortinet, SonicWall, Sophos, Cisco, and Palo Alto, pricing is often regional, quote-based, and dependent on the support level and service bundle. Do not compare a hardware-only price with a three-year licensed bundle. The same caution applies to open-source platforms: lower licensing costs can transfer expense to administration and support.
Who should administer the firewall?
Firewalla, UniFi gateways, and entry-level pfSense or OPNsense can work for a technically confident owner who understands routing, VLANs, VPNs, updates, and backups.
FortiGate, SonicWall, Sophos, Cisco, and Palo Alto are better choices when an IT consultant, MSP, or internal administrator will manage them—especially for multi-site VPNs, TLS inspection, identity-aware rules, advanced logging, or compliance-related controls.
A managed firewall service may be the better financial decision for a business with no internal IT expertise. It costs more each month but can include patching, monitoring, alert response, and recovery assistance. An ISP-provided business gateway is another simple option, though it may provide less portability, policy control, and visibility.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Buying on the headline throughput. Check threat-protection, IPS, VPN, and TLS-inspection figures for your actual configuration.
- Ignoring renewals. Request hardware, support, security services, cloud management, and term length as separate line items.
- Leaving management exposed. Prefer VPN-based administration, MFA, IP restrictions, and vendor-supported secure management over direct public access.
- Using one flat network. Separate guests, employees, cameras, phones, and IoT devices where appropriate.
- Failing to plan for failure. Keep exported configurations, ISP credentials, tested restore steps, UPS protection, and a spare or replacement plan.
- Assuming a router equals an NGFW. Basic packet filtering does not provide the same inspection, reporting, or threat feeds.
- Enabling TLS inspection without testing. It can cause outages, privacy problems, certificate issues, and performance degradation.
- Buying enterprise hardware without an administrator. Complexity is a liability when no one can operate the system safely.
Final recommendations by scenario
| Scenario | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Growing business with IT support | FortiGate 40F or 60F |
| Traditional SMB appliance and centralized management | SonicWall TZ270 or TZ370 |
| Technical buyer seeking flexibility and value | pfSense Plus or OPNsense |
| Very small office on a modest budget | Ubiquiti gateway, if its limited threat-prevention capabilities are acceptable |
| Approachable microbusiness firewall | Firewalla Gold |
| Complex segmentation or compliance-heavy operation | Cisco or Palo Alto with professional administration |
These are historical 2022 recommendations. Current successor models, firmware, support terms, and prices should be checked separately rather than substituted into a page about what was available in 2022. A firewall can support security and compliance controls, but buying one does not by itself make a business compliant with PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, or any other framework.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
