Network Security Tools
Network security tools decide which connections are allowed: zero trust access brokers, secure web gateways, firewalls, and cloud-delivered secure access platforms that replace VPNs and perimeter appliances.
| Tool | License | Platforms | Pricing | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cloudflare One | Proprietary | Web | Freemium | Profile→ |
| Firezone | Apache-2.0 AND Elastic-2.0 | Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android | Free / Commercial | Profile→ |
| FortiGate | Proprietary | Hardware, Web | Commercial | Profile→ |
| Headscale | BSD-3-Clause | Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android | Open Source | Profile→ |
| IPFire | GPL-3.0-or-later | Hardware, Linux | Open Source | Profile→ |
| NetBird | BSD-3-Clause AND AGPL-3.0 | Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android | Free / Commercial | Profile→ |
| Netskope One SSE | Proprietary | Web | Commercial | Profile→ |
| OpenZiti | Apache-2.0 | Linux, macOS, Windows | Open Source | Profile→ |
| OPNsense | BSD-2-Clause | Hardware, FreeBSD | Free / Commercial | Profile→ |
| pfSense CE | Apache-2.0 | Hardware, FreeBSD | Free / Commercial | Profile→ |
| Prisma Access | Proprietary | Web | Commercial | Profile→ |
| Tailscale | BSD-3-Clause | Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android | Free / Commercial | Profile→ |
| Zscaler | Proprietary | Web | Commercial | Profile→ |
Software in Network Security Tools
Cloudflare One
FreemiumUnified SASE platform delivering ZTNA, secure web gateway, CASB, DLP, and email security from Cloudflare network.
Firezone
Free / CommercialWireGuard-based zero trust access platform with policy-based routing and SSO integration.
FortiGate
CommercialFortinet next-generation firewall line with SD-WAN, SASE integration, and ASIC acceleration.
Headscale
Open SourceSelf-hosted implementation of the Tailscale control server for a single tailnet.
IPFire
Open SourceHardened open source Linux firewall distribution with IPS, VPN, and DMZ segmentation.
NetBird
Free / CommercialOpen source WireGuard zero trust overlay with SSO, MFA, and a self-hostable management plane.
Netskope One SSE
CommercialSecurity service edge platform combining SWG, CASB, ZTNA, and firewall-as-a-service on one client.
OpenZiti
Open SourceOpen source zero trust overlay network that authenticates connections with cryptographic identity.
OPNsense
Free / CommercialOpen source FreeBSD firewall and routing platform with IDS integration and a paid business edition.
pfSense CE
Free / CommercialOpen source community edition of the pfSense FreeBSD firewall, with a separate commercial Plus edition.
Prisma Access
CommercialCloud-delivered SASE service from Palo Alto Networks with ZTNA, network security, and SD-WAN.
Tailscale
Free / CommercialIdentity-based WireGuard mesh network for teams, with managed coordination and open source clients.
Zscaler
CommercialZero trust exchange delivering secure internet access (ZIA) and private application access (ZPA).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Network Security Tools?→
Network security tools decide which connections are allowed: zero trust access brokers, secure web gateways, firewalls, and cloud-delivered secure access platforms that replace VPNs and perimeter appliances.
What topics does the Network Security Tools category cover?→
Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Firewalls, Secure Access Service Edge (SSE)
About Network Security Tools
Network security tools enforce access decisions on network traffic. The category covers zero trust network access (ZTNA) platforms that broker connections to private applications based on identity and device posture instead of network location, secure web gateways (SWG) that filter outbound web and DNS traffic against malicious destinations and policy, and firewalls that apply rules between network segments. Many vendors now sell these functions together as secure access service edge (SASE) or security service edge (SSE) platforms delivered from cloud points of presence. This enforcement layer differs from the network monitoring category: monitoring tools observe and record traffic to find threats, while the tools here block or allow it. Open source coverage is real but concentrated at the firewall and overlay layers, with several maintained projects for self-hosted zero trust overlays and one permissive-license firewall platform series. Commercial platforms dominate the gateway and SASE space. The category overlaps with IAM, since access policy keys off identity, and with cloud-native security, since cloud workloads need the same access controls.
Covered Topics & Disciplines
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