FWaaS allows customers to partially or fully move security inspection to a cloud infrastructure. With security in the cloud, your solution is managed by the cloud provider, who will maintain the hardware infrastructure that powers your solution. Your service agreement will include details outlining the types of features you will have access to, depending on the subscription you choose. Many companies need a service-based architecture because it gives them the freedom to expand on-demand without having to worry about provisioning new hardware.

Maintaining hardware firewalls does not fit into many companies’ budgets or operational workflow, making FWaaS an attractive option. The convenience that comes with all updates and adjustments to settings being handled by the provider allows organizations to free up critical resources, time, and energy for other, mission-critical pursuits.

With FWaaS, an organization's distributed sites and users are connected to a single, logical, global firewall with a unified application-aware security policy, allowing them to better scale security. The Firewall as a Service provider gives all employees access to resources that protect a wide range of devices, making FWaaS a one-solution-fits-all option, regardless of the size of the organization.

This makes FWaaS a foundational component of any secure access service edge (SASE) architecture because it provides the functionality of NGFW without the high capital expenditure (CapEx) costs associated with an on-premises wide-area network (WAN) infrastructure investment. In an on-premise setup, upgrading your system involves taking the time to source the best components and compare them with each other before committing to a purchase. Then, after parting with valuable funds to purchase the item, the organization has to ensure staff is familiar with how it operates, how to maintain it, and how to ensure it is properly updated. For many companies, this is a heavy load to lift. With FWaaS, this is all taken care of by the provider.

FWaaS takes advantage of advances in software and cloud technologies to deliver a wide range of network security and inspection capabilities, provided on-demand for users anywhere. With an in-house setup, your IT team has to keep abreast of the latest software and technological developments impacting the world of network security. Some companies need FWaaS simply to ensure they have the latest and greatest protection. When the provider protects your network, you are more likely to have cutting-edge technologies and methodologies than if you put that responsibility on your in-house staff.