Cloud Network Firewall Test Results Expose Critical Security Gaps in Native Cloud Offerings

CyberRatings.org, in collaboration with NSS Labs, has released its 2026 Cloud Network Firewall (CNFW) evaluation results, which present a concerning picture for native cloud firewall offerings. The tests, conducted under identical conditions using the NSS Labs Cloud Network Firewall Test Methodology v4.1, evaluated nine products, including those from major cloud providers and third-party security vendors. Notably, AWS Network Firewall and Microsoft Azure Firewall both received a 0% Security Effectiveness rating, leading to a 'Caution' rating. Google Cloud Platform (GCP) NGFW Enterprise fared slightly better at 77.45%, but still fell short of the 'Recommended' threshold. In contrast, four third-party solutions—Fortinet FortiGate, HPE Juniper Networking vSRX, Palo Alto Networks VM-Series, and Versa Networks Next Generation Firewall—achieved 99.7% or higher in Security Effectiveness, earning them a 'Recommended' rating. Check Point CloudGuard Network Security also demonstrated high security effectiveness at 99.95% but received a 'Neutral' rating due to its above-average price per Mbps. This matters significantly to practitioners because it directly challenges the assumption that cloud-native security tools inherently provide sufficient protection. Many organizations adopt cloud provider services with the expectation that integrated security features are robust enough for their needs. The test results, however, indicate that this is often not the case, particularly for those facing advanced threats involving real-world exploits, evasion techniques, and malware. Organizations operating in AWS or Azure, relying primarily on their native firewalls, are effectively operating with a significant security blind spot. This puts their data, applications, and overall cloud infrastructure at considerable risk of compromise. The findings should serve as a wake-up call for security teams to conduct thorough evaluations of their current cloud network security posture. This development fits into a broader, well-established trend in cloud security where specialized third-party solutions often outperform generic cloud provider offerings in specific security domains. While cloud providers excel at infrastructure and foundational security, the depth and breadth of features, threat intelligence, and performance of dedicated security vendors frequently surpass what's available natively. This trend is evident across various security layers, from endpoint protection to identity management and, as these results show, network firewalls. The complexity of the modern threat landscape, characterized by increasingly sophisticated attacks, necessitates highly specialized and continuously updated security mechanisms that dedicated security companies are often better equipped to provide. The ongoing evolution of AI-driven cyberattacks, as highlighted by other recent reports, further emphasizes the need for advanced defensive capabilities that can adapt at machine speed. In practice, this means that cloud and DevOps teams should prioritize a comprehensive review of their cloud network firewall strategy. For those currently using AWS Network Firewall or Azure Firewall as their primary line of defense, immediate action is required. This could involve deploying a third-party next-generation firewall solution within their cloud environment, leveraging their advanced threat detection, intrusion prevention, and application control capabilities. Furthermore, organizations should consider a multi-layered security approach, integrating these firewalls with other security services like WAFs, DDoS protection, and cloud security posture management (CSPM) tools. The trade-off often involves increased complexity and cost, but the enhanced security posture and reduced risk of breach far outweigh these considerations. Practitioners should also advocate for regular, independent testing of their chosen security solutions to ensure they continue to meet evolving threat requirements, rather than relying solely on vendor claims or initial deployment configurations.