Our take
What our shortlists say about each one.
- Akamai App & API Protector
Best for: Large companies wanting edge protection plus API discovery
It belongs on this list because the firewall, bot controls, DDoS defense and API discovery come as one edge service, and the hybrid option covers apps that still sit on premises or behind more than one CDN. That makes it a fit for mid-market and enterprise teams with mixed hosting. Ask how much of the self-tuning you can inspect and override, since automatic rule changes still need an owner.
From Best Cloud WAAP Solutions for Business, Fall 2026
- Palo Alto Networks Next-Generation Firewalls
Best for: Large companies wanting one policy across all firewall types
It leads this list because one policy runs across every form factor, so your data center, cloud and container firewalls do not drift apart. That suits mid-market and enterprise estates with many sites and clouds. Ask which of the added services, such as SASE, AI app security and IoT, you need now, because each one widens the deal.
From Best Next-Generation Firewall Solutions for Business, Fall 2026
Reviewed by Nika (Nikoloz) Kokhreidze.
