To set up your hardware firewall, use the hardware firewall that is built into your home router or gateway. These new devices often come with weak security features, which can leave your network vulnerable, but a hardware firewall helps prevent this lapse in security. Hardware firewalls provide essential security for the Internet of Things (IoT), like smart thermostats and smart light bulbs. These firewalls monitor traffic to all the computers and devices that are connected to that router’s network, meaning you can filter access to all of them with just one piece of equipment. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.Hardware firewalls are included with some routers and require little to no configuration, since they are built into your hardware. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.

Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences, and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner®, Magic Quadrant and Peer Insights™ are trademarks of Gartner, Inc.

and internationally and is used herein with permission. Gartner and Magic Quadrant are registered trademarks of Gartner, Inc. Gartner Magic Quadrant for Network Firewalls, by Rajpreet Kaur, Adam Hils, Thomas Lintemuth, 19, December, 2022.

Home firewall