
Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure have become alarmingly frequent, losing their shock value but not their impact. These attacks disrupt essential services that power our daily lives, from electricity substations and intelligent transportation systems to water treatment facilities.
To address these threats, governments worldwide are rolling out stringent regulations to bolster the cybersecurity of critical infrastructure. For instance, by October 2024, EU member states must adopt the NIS2 Directive into their national laws to enhance the security of critical assets. Consequently, industrial organizations need robust cybersecurity frameworks and solutions to comply with these evolving standards and ensure operational resilience.
Defense-in-depth Strategies
Industry cybersecurity guidelines often advocate for defense-in-depth strategies, which involve layering security measures to mitigate risks. While protecting network perimeters and creating secure zones is vital, addressing internal vulnerabilities is equally important. Internal threats, such as malware introduced through portable devices, can compromise an entire network.
Industrial firewalls serve as a critical defense mechanism by filtering traffic and blocking threats from both internal and external sources. However, integrating firewalls into LANs near critical assets often raises concerns about network performance and operational disruptions.
This article explores four major challenges faced by stakeholders—asset owners, CISOs, system integrators, OT network administrators, and network design experts—when implementing firewalls. It also explains how next-generation LAN firewalls resolve these challenges to enhance security without compromising network uptime.
Key Concerns When Deploying Firewall Solutions
While implementing firewall solutions enhances the security of your industrial operations, it can also introduce challenges to existing workflows. Balancing robust network security with seamless performance is no easy task. Explore the four key concerns driving industrial operators to seek smarter and more efficient implementation strategies.
Concern 1: Network Design Disruptions
Adding firewalls to an existing network often necessitates extensive topology redesign and IP subnet reconfiguration. These changes can be resource-intensive, particularly for critical applications where network downtime is not an option. A firewall solution that integrates seamlessly without altering the existing network setup is essential for minimizing disruptions.
Concern 2: Performance and Service Reliability
Maintaining seamless operations requires high network performance, even when introducing new devices for cybersecurity. Key factors like boot times, network latency, and operational reliability are critical. Firewalls that fail or require frequent maintenance, especially when a new device is added, could lead to downtime, negatively impacting services. To address these issues, firewall solutions must be designed to prioritize performance while avoiding single points of failure.
Concern 3: Safeguarding Legacy Devices
Standards like IEC 62443 and frameworks such as NIS2 mandate protecting critical assets from DoS attacks and maintaining event logs during incidents. However, many critical assets in industrial environments are legacy devices running older operating systems, which cannot be quickly upgraded to meet these security requirements. To shield these devices from evolving threats, a firewall solution is needed that minimizes the need for frequent updates. Additionally, legacy devices at field sites often rely on diverse industrial communication protocols tailored to specific application needs. A robust firewall solution should support these protocols and enable detailed data analysis within industrial control networks to enhance communication security.
Concern 4: Complexity in Monitoring and Threat Detection
Effective cybersecurity requires continuous monitoring to detect and respond to threats promptly. Without efficient tools to oversee network health and security events, administrators risk delayed responses, prolonged downtimes, and operational disruptions. A firewall solution must simplify monitoring and provide real-time notifications to maintain system reliability.
Next-gen LAN Firewalls: The Solution for Security and Uptime
Moxa EDF-G1002-BP Series industrial LAN firewalls offer industrial operators a reliable solution to address networking challenges, providing robust network security while maintaining uptime. Designed to operate in transparent firewall mode, these LAN firewalls focus on protecting critical assets and enabling secure east-west communication within the LAN.
Simplified Installation
Next-generation LAN firewalls, like the EDF-G1002-BP Series, enable seamless deployment without requiring IP subnet reconfigurations. These 2-port LAN firewalls can be installed inline (bump-in-the-wire) in front of critical assets, minimizing disruptions to existing network setups while enhancing security.
Optimized Performance and Reliability
With a quick 30-second boot time, these firewalls ensure rapid recovery during power outages, preventing false anomaly detection between control centers and PLC equipment. The built-in LAN Bypass function guarantees uninterrupted services by maintaining network communication even during hardware or software malfunctions.
Legacy Device Protection
Protecting legacy devices is a priority for next-gen LAN firewalls. Equipped with IPS (Intrusion Prevention System) and DPI (Deep Packet Inspection) technologies, these firewalls secure legacy assets like PLCs and HMIs from evolving cyber threats. Features such as virtual patches and pattern-based protection provide immediate security, allowing operators to plan system updates at their convenience. Additionally, DPI enables granular control over industrial protocols, ensuring secure and efficient communication within control networks.

Streamlined Network Management
Managing network security is simplified with tools like MXview One and MXsecurity. MXview One provides a comprehensive view of network health, alerting administrators to errors in real time, while MXsecurity enables centralized management of firewall policies, reducing manual errors. Real-time alerts for security events allow faster responses and minimize risks.
Build Resilient Networks with the EDF-G1002-BP Series
The EDF-G1002-BP Series offers advanced LAN firewall capabilities, ensuring industrial cybersecurity and operational reliability. By prioritizing seamless integration, optimized performance, legacy device protection, and simplified management, these firewalls address the critical needs of industrial operators.
To explore which firewall solution is best suited for your application, download the infographic or visit the website to learn more about the EDF-G1002-BP Series.
EDF-G1002-BP Series
- Bump-in-the-wire installation without impacting the network
- Gen3 LAN Bypass for system fault tolerance
- Industrial-grade Intrusion Prevention/Detection System (IPS/IDS)
- Examine industrial protocol data with Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology
- Supports Secure Boot for checking system integrity
- Check firewall policy misconfiguration with just one click

*Easy World's Moxa's official distributor in the Middle East. For any further information please contact us via sales@eworldme.com.