Checklist For Selecting Firewall Vendor

How should CISO define the requirement for solutions related to the Firewall domain?

To ascertain total throughput required. The requirement be finalized keeping in view the current traffic as well as expected increase in volumes over at least next 3-5 years.
To ascertain what is the throughput required for individual interface.
How many interfaces are required in the firewall.
Do we require additional modules (IPS, anti spoofing etc). If yes then what are those.
Any technological constraint or specific requirement

What are the key parameters based on which CISO would choose a vendor for the same?

Vendor should have prior experience in supply,installation and maintenance of information security devices. The projects should have been of comparable size. Number of successful deployments should be considered.
Vendor should be authorized partners of the OEM of the equipment to be supplied.
Previous record of supply and maintenance/ business dealings should be unblemished and of having successfully supplied and deployed information security equipment
Should have qualified staff on roles for support for supplied equipment. These staff should hold the certifications on the product from the OEM.
Licensing and free requirements are crystallized on various factors like throughputs, components, applications, sites etc.

Top Questions to ask vendor for evaluating the offering/Vendor Evaluation Checklist

Proposed solution should not be nearing end of life / end of sale / end of support currently. Residual life to be at least 5 years
Life road map of system should ensure that the solution is covered under support for period of at least 5 years from date of purchase / installation by OEM
What is the support structure of vendor and how will the support be provided (on-site, off-site, remote, session logs and audit)
How the updates / patches be made available (online and regular updates are preferable / fixed frequency)
What is the SLA (with specific reference to Uptime Assurance, Turn Around Time)
What is the level of engagement with OEM for the supply (It should be supply and support)
Responsibilities of the OEM towards the purchaser (for supply, installation and maintenance)
What if the front ending of the existing vendor ends abruptly, whether OEM provides an alternative and of what quality/ assurance.

Top mistakes to avoid while selecting a vendor?

Solution should not be nearing its end of life / end of support
There should be no ambiguity regarding the terms and conditions of services
Tenure of engagement of services of the vendor should be amply clear and accepted in writing by both the parties
Verification of the documents submitted by vendors should be done from original source or alternate source before selection
Price discovery should be done where ever possible.

-Sunil Soni, CISO, Asstt. General Manager, Punjab National Bank tells CISO Platform about Selecting Firewall Vendors

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