Traditional firewalls act like security guards checking passports at a border. They look at the origin and destination of traffic (like checking IDs) and allow or block based on pre-defined rules.

Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) are like super-smart security guards who can do not only check IDs but also scan luggage for contraband, verify travel purposes (work trip vs. attending a high-risk event), and consult a constantly updated watch-list of known criminals