Last updated on Mar 6, 2024

How do you backup and restore your firewall settings and data?

Backing up and restoring your firewall settings and data is a crucial task for any information security professional. A firewall is a device or software that controls the traffic between different networks or devices, based on a set of rules or policies. It can protect your network from unauthorized access, malware, or other threats. However, if your firewall fails, gets corrupted, or needs to be replaced, you may lose your configuration and data, which can compromise your security and performance. Therefore, you need to have a backup plan and a restore procedure to ensure you can recover your firewall quickly and safely. In this article, we will show you how to backup and restore your firewall settings and data using some common tools and methods.

1 Backup Methods

Depending on the type and model of your firewall, and the level of backup you need, there are various methods of backing up your firewall settings and data. For instance, many firewalls have a feature that allows you to export or save your configuration and data to a file or remote location, such as using the copy running-config or copy startup-config commands on Cisco firewalls, or the backup command on Fortinet firewalls. Alternatively, some firewalls support third-party backup tools that can automate the process and store your settings and data in a secure and centralized location. For example, SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager or ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer can be used for this purpose. If your firewall does not have a built-in backup feature or does not support a third-party backup tool, you can use manual backup methods such as connecting to your firewall via SSH or Telnet with a terminal emulator program like PuTTY or HyperTerminal, and copying and pasting your configuration and data to a text file.

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Jonathan Kazmierczak

Information Technology Manager @ Consolidated Manufacturing | Technical Project Management
Built-in Features: Cisco: Utilize commands like copy running-config or copy startup-config. Fortinet: Utilize the backup command for configuration backups. Third-Party Tools: SolarWinds automates backups, providing version control. ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer offers backup and log analysis. Manual Methods: In the absence of built-in features, use SSH/Telnet tools like PuTTY. Manually copy and paste configurations for backup.
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Indranil Routh
Cisco FTD: Navigate to System > Backup. Choose the "Configuration Only" option. Click "Download Backup". Palo Alto: Device > Setup > Operations. Under "Backup/Restore", click "Schedule Backup". Choose the desired backup frequency and location. Fortinet: System > Configuration > Firewall. Click "Import". Select backup file and click "Open". Click "Apply" to confirm the restore. * all examples are manual web-based interfaces.
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2 Backup Frequency

The frequency of your backup depends on how often your firewall settings and data change, and how critical they are for your network security and performance. Generally, you should backup your firewall settings and data at least once a month, or whenever you make a significant change to your configuration or policies. You should also backup your firewall settings and data before and after any major upgrade, migration, or maintenance activity. Additionally, you should backup your firewall settings and data whenever you detect or suspect a security breach, a malware infection, or a hardware failure.

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Nathan Tofani

Cyber Security | CompTIA Security+ | Security Operations Center | Risk Management | Vulnerability Management | Threat Intelligence | Information Security
The most important point in the success of a backup structure, in addition to the reliable tool and actions, is the documentation and molded process of the periodicity and retention of these backups. Once this process is documented and audited, we will be guaranteed a shorter time for data loss if recovery is necessary, as well as the certainty that the data is periodically tested and is valid.
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Jonathan Kazmierczak

Information Technology Manager @ Consolidated Manufacturing | Technical Project Management
Frequency and Documentation: Establish a regular backup schedule based on network changes. Document backup methods, frequency, and storage locations.
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Indranil Routh
Use automated backup mthods like 'Solarwinds' which can pull firewall backups based on back-end authentication. Backup frequencies can be defined as daily, weekly or monthly (not really a good option) or trigger event based backups (best-practice for operational resiliency).
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3 Backup Storage

The storage of your backup files is also an important factor to consider. You should store your backup files in a secure and accessible location, preferably off-site or in the cloud. You should also encrypt your backup files to prevent unauthorized access or tampering. Moreover, you should keep multiple copies of your backup files, and rotate them regularly to avoid data loss or corruption. You should also verify the integrity and validity of your backup files periodically, and test them on a spare or simulated firewall to ensure they can be restored successfully.

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Indranil Routh
You can upload your backups based on requirements, it can be on a SFTP server, a local storage, NFS, local-device storage (if device fails you are in trouble), or best put it on a cloud-storage like AWS S3 buckets or Azure blob storage. Make sure you keep the backups safe and secure, a must for ISMS audits.
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4 Restore Methods

Restoring your firewall settings and data is similar to backing them up, just in reverse. Most firewalls have a built-in restore feature, such as the copy command for Cisco firewalls or the restore command for Fortinet firewalls, that can be used to import or load data from a file or remote location. Additionally, some firewalls support third-party restore tools, like SolarWinds Network Configuration Manager or ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer, that can automate the restore process and monitor and manage the firewall from a web-based interface. If your firewall does not have a built-in restore feature or does not support a third-party restore tool, you can use a manual restore method such as connecting to your firewall via SSH or Telnet and copying and pasting your configuration and data from a text file. Restoring your firewall settings and data is essential for informing and reassuring stakeholders, as well as providing valuable insights for improving your cloud security posture.

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Indranil Routh
Cisco FTD: Navigate to System > Backup. Click "Choose File" and select backup. Click "Restore". Palo Alto: Device > Setup > Operations. Under "Backup/Restore", click "Restore Configuration". Select desired backup file, click "Restore". Fortinet: System > Configuration > Firewall. Click "Import". Select backup file and click "Open". Click "Apply" to confirm the restore. * all examples are web-based interfaces.
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Jonathan Kazmierczak

Information Technology Manager @ Consolidated Manufacturing | Technical Project Management
Built-in Features: Cisco: Utilize commands like copy running-config or copy startup-config. Fortinet: Utilize the backup command for configuration backups. Third-Party Tools: SolarWinds automates backups, providing version control. ManageEngine Firewall Analyzer offers backup and log analysis. Manual Methods: In the absence of built-in features, use SSH/Telnet tools like PuTTY. Manually copy and paste configurations for backup.
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5 Restore Precautions

The restore process can be risky and complex, particularly when dealing with a production environment, so it’s important to take certain precautions. Beforehand, you should back up your current settings and data in case you need to revert. Additionally, you should choose the right backup file to restore based on the date, version, and compatibility of your firewall. It’s also important to check the backup file for errors, inconsistencies, or conflicts with your firewall. During the process, it’s wise to stop or minimize the traffic to and from your firewall to avoid interruptions or disruptions. Furthermore, you should follow the instructions and best practices of your firewall vendor or provider for a successful restore. Finally, it’s essential to test and verify the restored settings and data to make sure they work as expected and don’t cause any issues or vulnerabilities.

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Jonathan Kazmierczak

Information Technology Manager @ Consolidated Manufacturing | Technical Project Management
Restoring data poses risks, especially in a production environment, demanding careful precautions. Begin by backing up existing settings and data as a safety net. Select the appropriate backup file based on date, version, and compatibility. Prioritize checking the file for errors or conflicts with your firewall. During the restore, reduce or halt traffic to and from the firewall to prevent disruptions. Adhere closely to the guidance provided by your firewall vendor for a successful restore. Crucially, thoroughly test and verify the restored settings and data to ensure functionality and avoid potential issues or vulnerabilities. This comprehensive approach minimizes the complexities associated with the restoration process.
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6 Restore Benefits

Restoring your firewall settings and data can offer several advantages, such as recovering your firewall functionality and security in the event of a failure or corruption, restoring network performance and availability in case of a slowdown or outage, reverting to a previous or preferred configuration or policy if a change or update causes problems, and resolving or preventing a security breach, malware infection, or hardware failure.

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Jonathan Kazmierczak

Information Technology Manager @ Consolidated Manufacturing | Technical Project Management
Restoring your firewall settings and data yields numerous benefits. It ensures the recovery of firewall functionality and security in the face of failures or corruption, reinstates network performance and availability during slowdowns or outages, facilitates reverting to a previous or preferred configuration if changes cause issues, and aids in resolving or preventing security breaches, malware infections, or hardware failures. This proactive approach to restoration enhances overall system resilience and safeguards against potential disruptions and vulnerabilities.
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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Surain Silva 🎯

CISO I Information Security I GRC I IT Audit Professional - CISSP, CISA, ITIL, ISO 27701:2019 LI, MBA, Bsc (Hons), MCP, CSFPC, CIMA
Most firewalls have a built-in backup feature, letting you save the configuration like a file in a secure secondary location. This way, if your firewall crashes due to a power surge (like a lightning strike!), you can restore the settings quickly and get back online. It's a lifesaver for IT admins, saving them hours of reconfiguring everything.
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How do you backup and restore your firewall settings and data?

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2

3

4

5

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7

1 Backup Methods

2 Backup Frequency

3 Backup Storage

4 Restore Methods

5 Restore Precautions

6 Restore Benefits

7 Here’s what else to consider

Information Security

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How do you backup and restore your firewall settings and data?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Backup Methods

2 Backup Frequency

3 Backup Storage

4 Restore Methods

5 Restore Precautions

6 Restore Benefits

7 Here’s what else to consider

Information Security

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