Top 3 next-generation firewall (NGFW) Challenges and How to Solve Them with AI

Managing a next-generation firewall (NGFW) isn’t a “set it and forget it” job. Today’s security teams are under constant pressure—juggling complex setups, performance optimization, threat detection, and a fast-growing class of AI-generated attacks.

To understand where teams are struggling most, we ran a poll asking:

What’s Your Biggest Firewall Security Challenge?

Here’s how the results stacked up:

• Rule Management – 46%

• AI-Generated Threats – 31%

• Setup & Configuration – 23%

• Performance – 0%

The message is clear: rule management is the top pain point for nearly half of security teams. But all three challenges reveal critical gaps in the firewall stack—and opportunities for AI to step in.

1. Rule Management: Too Many Rules, Too Little Time

Traditional firewalls rely heavily on predefined rules to block threats. But in a world of evolving tactics, that’s a losing game.

• Rules grow outdated fast

• Teams are stuck writing exceptions

• SOCs drown in irrelevant alerts

The result? Reactive security and missed threats hiding in plain sight.

2. AI-Generated Threats: Moving Faster Than Rules Can React

Attackers are using generative AI to craft more evasive, adaptive attacks. These threats don’t follow patterns—they learn and evolve.

What firewalls miss:

• Stealthy app-layer attacks

• Live session takeovers

• Automated lateral movement

Traditional NGFWs were never built to detect threats moving at machine speed inside live applications.

3. Setup & Configuration: Complexity That Never Ends

Getting a firewall properly configured is no small feat. From policies to zones to NAT rules, one misstep can introduce blind spots or bottlenecks. And with hybrid environments, every change adds new complexity.

The risk: Configuration drift and gaps that attackers can exploit.

Enter Rampart-AI: Runtime Intelligence for the Firewall Era

Firewalls are still a vital layer of defense—but they need help. That’s where Rampart-AI comes in.

Rampart works alongside your NGFW, observing live application behavior across containers, APIs, and services to detect what rules can’t catch.

From Static Detection to Dynamic Protection

Rampart helps teams break free from rule fatigue and move to real-time, behavior-based defense:

✔️ See what firewalls miss
Detect exploits, exfiltration, and lateral movement from inside the app

✔️ Block threats in real time
AI-driven behavioral models identify anomalies and stop attacks instantly

✔️ Enrich your firewall
Send runtime telemetry to your NGFW to enhance its decisions—without writing more rules

✔️ Cut alert noise
Reduce false positives and help your SOC focus on true threats

NGFW + Rampart = Smarter, Active Enforcement

Rampart doesn’t replace your firewall—it amplifies it.

By combining runtime context with automated blocking, you transform your firewall from a passive observer into an active enforcer that’s ready for modern, AI-driven threats.

Ready to stop managing rules and start managing risk?
Let’s talk: contact@rampart-ai.com