The Containment Era is here. →Explore

The NGFW Enforcement Gaps

NGFWs excel at perimeter defense, but cloud-native traffic increasingly bypasses centralized inspection—creating gaps, complexity, and risk in east–west communication.

Cloud security needs enforcement that follows traffic, scales with cloud environments, preserves performance, and integrates with NGFWs.
The NGFW Enforcement

The Aviatrix Approach: Introducing a Distributed Enforcement Layer

Aviatrix Cloud Native Security Fabric (CNSF) introduces a distributed, cloud-native enforcement layer. CNSF enforces Zero Trust where traffic flows—securing workload-to-workload and internet communication—while keeping NGFWs focused on inspection without disruption.

Zero trust
Enforce zero trust

Deliver cloud-native visibility into east–west and outbound traffic flows in real time.

Network targets
Provide traffic visibility

Deliver cloud native visibility into east-west and outbound traffic flows in real time.

Industry Financial Services  - Icon Content Columns With Intro - Column - Image
Remove centralized enforcement

Minimize dependence on perimeter-bound enforcement to reduce latency and complexity.

Chokepoint Security vs. Containment Architecture

A chokepoint governs the traffic that routes through it. Communication Governance governs every path.

Chokepoint Security
Containment Architecture
NGFW /
Transit
Firewall
Pod
K8s Pods
Func
Serverless
E-W
East-West
Policy
Auto-Propagated
K8s Pod Egress
Exits via Node NAT
Ungoverned
K8s Pod Egress
Enforced at Pod
Governed
Serverless Functions
Exits via Provider NAT
Ungoverned
Serverless Functions
Enforced at Function
Governed
East-West VPC Traffic
Direct Peering
Ungoverned
East-West VPC Traffic
Enforced at Workload
Governed
New VPC / Policy Gap
No Routing Configured
Ungoverned
New VPC / Policy Gap
Auto-Propagated
Governed
Governs only traffic that routes through it
Governs every workload, every path, every region

Detailed Comparison

DimensionChokepoint SecurityContainment Architecture
Enforcement PointCentral transit firewallEvery workload
K8s Pod EgressInvisibleGoverned
Serverless FunctionsInvisibleGoverned
East-West TrafficDepends on routingGoverned
Policy PropagationHours/days per deviceSubsecond, universal
Blast RadiusNetwork-wideSingle workload

"The distinction is not 'egress filtering vs. no egress filtering.' The distinction is where the enforcement lives."

Frictionless NGFW Service Insertion with Aviatrix FireNet

Aviatrix FireNet simplifies NGFW integration into cloud traffic paths with centralized routing control, lifecycle management, high availability, and consistent service insertion across AWS, Azure, and GCP—without added complexity.

Pattern Image
Frictionless NGFW
  • Reduce blind spots

    Reduces blind spots in east–west traffic and improves enforcement visibility across clouds.

  • Limit lateral movement

    Limits lateral movement opportunities after initial compromise to contain breach impact.

  • Avoid central reliance

    Avoids over-reliance on centralized inspection points, reducing latency and complexity.

  • Consistent policy maintenance

    Maintains consistent policy enforcement as environments scale and workloads multiply.

Explore how Aviatrix can help your business

Whitepaper
White Paper
Aviatrix CNSF: The Implementation Layer for Zero Trust Workloads
Analyst Report
Analyst Report
Is Zero Trust out of Reach? Why you need a Cloud Native Security Fabric™
Video
Video
Securing the Cloud’s Third Leg: Aviatrix CEO on CNSF

Secure The Connections Between Your Clouds and Cloud Workloads

Leverage a security fabric to meet compliance and reduce cost, risk, and complexity.

Cta pattren Image