The closest alternative for inline inspection of VPC traffic is a third-party firewall or intrusion-prevention appliance integrated with AWS Gateway Load Balancer (GWLB). For several VPCs, AWS Transit Gateway can route selected traffic through a centralized security VPC. But AWS Network Firewall also supports per-VPC, centralized, and hybrid designs, so the right choice depends on inspection requirements, traffic paths, and who will operate the firewall. AWS WAF and AWS Shield address different security problems; neither is a like-for-like replacement for VPC network inspection.
Which alternatives inspect VPC traffic inline?
Inline inspection puts a firewall or IPS in the traffic’s forwarding path so it can apply network policies to the traffic being routed. The main alternatives are a third-party appliance behind GWLB and, for a different operating model, AWS Network Firewall itself deployed in a suitable topology. For analysis without inline enforcement, VPC Traffic Mirroring is another option.
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Third-party firewall or IPS behind GWLB
AWS documents GWLB as an appliance-insertion option for third-party security products. GWLB provides load balancing and health checks for appliances, while GWLB endpoints let VPC traffic reach the inspection service. AWS lists Check Point, F5, Fortinet, and Palo Alto Networks as partner examples, including integrations described by the vendors as CloudGuard, BIG-IP, FortiGate Virtual Firewall, and VM-Series. Those examples establish that integrations are available, not that one product is more effective, less expensive, or faster than another.
This model may suit a team that needs a particular vendor’s documented capabilities or already operates that vendor’s security platform. The team must still deploy and configure the appliance and its GWLB architecture, and should verify the current product features, regional Marketplace listing, licensing, and vendor routing requirements before selecting it.
#1 Best Overall
- Compact and Efficient Design: The FortiGate 40F is designed for small to mid-sized businesses and enterprise branch offices, featuring a compact, fanless desktop form factor that ensures quiet operation and minimizes space usage.
- Robust Connectivity Options: Equipped with 5 GE RJ45 ports, including 1 WAN port and 4 internal ports, this model provides essential connectivity and flexibility for various network configurations in a small-scale environment.
- High-Performance Security: Offers up to 1 Gbps IPS throughput and 600 Mbps threat protection throughput, using Fortinet’s purpose-built security processor technology to deliver industry-leading performance and protection for SSL encrypted traffic.
- Advanced Threat Protection: Integrated with Fortinet’s AI-powered FortiGuard Labs, the FortiGate 40F offers comprehensive cybersecurity, identifying and mitigating both known and unknown threats to maintain robust security across your network.
- Simplified Management and Deployment: Features a user-friendly management console that provides comprehensive network automation and visibility, coupled with Zero Touch Integration with Fortinet’s Security Fabric for easy deployment.
AWS Network Firewall in another topology
Before replacing the service, check whether a different AWS Network Firewall deployment fits. AWS Well-Architected guidance describes per-VPC, centralized inspection VPC, and hybrid patterns. A centralized policy may work where traffic can be routed through a shared inspection point; per-VPC placement may suit requirements for more granular separation. A hybrid design can combine the patterns.
VPC Traffic Mirroring for out-of-band analysis
Traffic Mirroring sends copies of network traffic to an analysis system. It can support packet inspection, but it does not put an allow-or-deny firewall in the forwarding path. AWS notes that mirrored packets count against interface bandwidth and incur the same data transfer charges as non-mirrored traffic, so account for that impact when designing a monitoring setup.
Rank #2
- 【Professional Firewall & NAS SERVER】OAKNODE 10gbe Firewall Appliance Mini PC-MGNASN, a powerful professional firewall router pc equipped with a 12th Gen Alder Lake N100 4C/4T up to 3.4GHz TDP only 6W with Intel UHD Graphics which maximizes the performance of the 2.5GbE port & SFP+ port, bring you a smooth secured and encrypted network environment.
- 【Rich I/O to meet your needs】Firewall Appliance MGNASN With HDMI 2.0+DP 1.4+TYPE-C(dp 1.2) Support for 3x4K@60Hz together, Dual DDR4 RAM slot support for up to 1x32GB SO-Dimm laptop DDR5 Ram Maximum 5600Mhz and 1xM.2 NVMe/PCIe 3.0x1 2280 SSD slot +1*SATA 3.0 SSD/HDD slots (install externally), also it support boot from TF card slot and it also support PXE/AWOL/Watchdog/GPIO etc. which is perfect for your firewall appliance、VM、Router、home Server needs.
- 【2xSFP+ 10GbE + 4x2.5GbE】This Firewall Router equipped with 2xIntel 82599ES 10gbe network card and 4*Intel i226-V network card speed maximum up to 2.5GbE(need other device like router, cables etc. also support 2.5Gbe/10gbe)which can bring you more faster and professional network usage(some system not release drivers yet) suggest to install version of below systems: pf-sense plus 23.0X or CE 2.7.X, OPNsense 22.1, OpenWrt, ROS7, ESXI 8 , Proxmox, CentOS etc).
- 【4G LTE Function supported】This model also support 4G LTE function(mini PCIE slot for 4G modem) and SIM card slot which you can use it as a IOT devices for your server.
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How AWS Network Firewall and GWLB appliances differ
Compare the operating model and documented capabilities against the traffic paths you need to inspect. The table describes broad distinctions; it is not a product ranking or a price comparison.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Decision area | AWS Network Firewall | Third-party appliance behind GWLB |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | AWS documents per-VPC, centralized inspection VPC, and hybrid patterns. | Can be inserted per VPC or in a centralized pattern; GWLB supplies appliance insertion, load balancing, and health checks. |
| Inspection and policy | AWS documentation describes stateful and stateless rules, Suricata-compatible stateful rules, domain filtering, and deep packet inspection. | Features and rule formats depend on the selected vendor and product; verify current documentation for the required protocols and controls. |
| TLS inspection | AWS Well-Architected guidance identifies support for TLS unwrapping as a design decision when deep packet inspection is required. Confirm the exact implementation and requirements. | Behavior varies by product and configuration. Confirm certificate handling, traffic coverage, and operational requirements with the vendor. |
| Operations | AWS manages the service infrastructure, while the customer defines policies and routes traffic through firewall endpoints. | The customer deploys and configures the appliance and GWLB architecture, following vendor guidance. |
| Cost | Check service charges and traffic-path costs for the chosen region and design. | Account for software licensing, compute, GWLB, traffic, logging, and management costs. No comparable current price figures are established here. |
What to verify before choosing a firewall
- Define the security objective. Establish whether the requirement is VPC network inspection, HTTP(S) application filtering, DDoS mitigation, or out-of-band visibility. These needs call for different controls.
- Map the traffic paths. Identify which VPC-to-VPC, outbound, VPN, Direct Connect, or on-premises flows must be inspected, and whether policy needs to be shared or separated by VPC.
- Match the inspection requirements. Confirm required protocols, rule formats, domain controls, deep packet inspection, and TLS unwrapping behavior in current service or vendor documentation.
- Check operational fit. Compare policy management, fleet administration, incident response, and the team’s ability to operate the chosen service or appliance.
- Validate region and full cost. Check regional service availability, Marketplace listings, licensing, and all relevant traffic and infrastructure charges for the actual deployment.
How to design an inline inspection path
Keep stateful flows symmetric
For a stateful firewall, the forward and return directions of a connection must traverse the same appliance. AWS Prescriptive Guidance explicitly warns that both directions must remain on the same firewall. With a GWLB design, route the selected traffic through GWLB endpoints and verify the return routes as well as the forward routes; a design that sends the two directions through different appliances can break stateful inspection.
Rank #3
- BUSINESS READY - pfSense+ software updates included for product lifetime. Netgate TAC Lite technical support included. One year hardware warranty included.
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- POWERFUL - A dual core ARM Cortex-A53 1.2 GHz delivers near gigabit routing of common home iPerf3 traffic and in excess of 650 Mbps of firewall throughput.
- COMPACT - Low power draw, a compact form factor, and silent operation allow it to run unnoticed when placed on a desktop, wall, or rack.
- FLEXIBLE - Three (3) 1 GbE switched (WAN/LAN/OPT) ports allow you to configure three separate 1 GbE switched ports for upto a gigabit of bi-directional traffic.
Use Transit Gateway deliberately for centralized inspection
A multi-VPC design can use Transit Gateway to send selected flows through a separate security VPC. AWS’s architecture guidance describes separate subnets for Transit Gateway attachments and firewall endpoints in each Availability Zone, with AZ-aware route tables and Transit Gateway appliance mode used to help preserve symmetric paths through the same AZ. The exact route tables and supported paths depend on the topology, so validate them against current AWS guidance for the target region.
Decide which traffic belongs in the inspection path instead of routing everything through it by default. AWS guidance recommends defining security zones and selecting flows deliberately; this affects both policy scope and cost. Preserve source and destination address visibility where the security policy or investigation process requires it, and check how routing or NAT choices affect that visibility.
Rank #4
- 【Processor & OS】Firewall Mini PC with Intel J3710 CPU up to 2.64GHz, 4Cores 4threads 2MB L2 Cache, TDP 6.5w, supports AES-NI. It tested with pf-sens/opn-sense linux ubuntu and other popular open source os. ("DEL" key to enter BIOS)
- 【Interfaces】The firewall pc has 4 * Intel I226 lan ports, 2 * USB3.0 ports, 1 * RS232COM port, 2 * HD port, 1 * DC port. Equipped with VESA mount, you can install the micro pc behind the monitor to save space.
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Check topology limits
AWS Network Firewall’s developer guide lists VPC peering among unsupported architectures. Because support depends on the exact traffic path and AWS documentation can change, check the current guide before relying on a peering-based design. Also verify the selected Network Firewall or appliance design for every relevant path, including VPN and Direct Connect traffic, rather than assuming that all VPC traffic is automatically inspected.
When WAF or Shield is the right control instead
AWS WAF filters supported HTTP(S) application requests, while AWS Shield addresses DDoS threats. AWS says Network Firewall is not intended to mitigate volumetric DDoS attacks and points to Shield Advanced for that security objective. These services can complement network inspection, but they solve different problems: choose according to the traffic layer and threat you need to address.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【CPU Optimized for Firewall Mini PCs】This firewall appliance is powered by Intel Quad-Core Celeron J1900, 64-bit, up to 2.0 GHz, supporting software-based encryption. Energy-efficient and reliable, it runs 24/7 for home or small office networks, handling VPNs, multi-WAN routing, and basic firewall tasks efficiently.
- 【4×Intel i210 Ports】Equipped with four Intel i210 network controllers, each delivering up to 1 GbE for reliable multi-WAN routing, VPN connections, VLAN management, and stable performance in small office or home firewall deployments
- 【Memory & Storage】This Firewall Mini PC comes with 4 GB DDR3L RAM and a 64 GB mSATA SSD, providing reliable performance for basic networking tasks. AMI BIOS with ACPI support ensures stable system operation and energy-efficient 24/7 use
- 【Flexible System Compatibility】Compatible with Windows 10, Linux, and professional firewall systems such as pfSense, OPNsense, and VyOS, ensuring stable network management for home or small office use
- 【After-Sales Support:】This compact, fanless, and silent firewall keeps your network secure. Includes lifetime technical support and a 30-day money-back guarantee!
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