Firewall Policy

Firewall Policy | Keep It Cyber

Firewall Policy for Logistics Operations

Establish secure network boundaries and access controls to protect your logistics infrastructure and regulated systems. NIST-aligned and CMMC-ready.

NIST SP 800-171 CMMC v2 FMCSA Guidelines CTPAT Standards

What is a Firewall Policy?

A Firewall Policy establishes requirements for implementing and maintaining network boundaries that protect your logistics technology infrastructure from unauthorized access and cyber threats. It defines how traffic is controlled between different network segments, what monitoring and logging should occur, and how changes to firewall configurations are managed.

The policy creates a structured approach to network traffic control (what connections are allowed) and network segmentation (how sensitive systems are isolated), addressing the critical need to secure transportation management systems, fleet communications, and dispatch operations.

Why It Matters for Logistics Companies

Logistics operations rely on interconnected systems spanning multiple locations, mobile devices, and vendor connections. Without proper firewall controls, your organization faces:

  • Unauthorized access to TMS, WMS, and dispatch systems
  • Data leakage of sensitive shipment details and customer information
  • Compliance violations with NIST, CMMC, FMCSA, and CTPAT requirements
  • Lateral movement by attackers across connected systems
  • Inability to properly monitor and detect suspicious network activity

A well-implemented Firewall Policy provides essential protection for your most critical logistics systems while enabling secure connectivity for drivers, facilities, and business partners—balancing security with operational needs.

What's Typically Included

Our logistics-optimized Firewall Policy addresses the unique challenges faced by freight brokers, carriers, and 3PLs:

  • Firewall configuration standards tailored for logistics environments
  • Segmentation requirements for dispatch, fleet management, and administrative zones
  • Access control guidelines for remote drivers, vendors, and third-party services
  • Monitoring and logging requirements for security and compliance
  • Change management procedures for firewall configurations
  • Cloud firewall controls for TMS and logistics platforms
  • Special considerations for ELD, GPS, and mobile fleet technologies
  • Integration with incident response for breach containment

Why Your Logistics Operation Needs This Policy

A Firewall Policy is essential for any logistics company with networked systems or cloud services. It's particularly critical for:

  • Organizations using TMS, WMS, or dispatch applications across multiple locations
  • Fleet operations with remote connections from drivers and mobile devices
  • Companies that provide vendor or customer portal access to shipping information
  • Cross-border carriers subject to CTPAT security requirements
  • Logistics providers pursuing government or defense contracts

For comprehensive network security, pair this policy with a Incident Response Policy and Log Management Policy to create a complete security framework for your logistics infrastructure.

Available in Operational & Regulated Tiers

The Firewall Policy is available in our advanced compliance packages for logistics operations with complex network security requirements

Tier 2: Operational Logistics
$4,500 · One-time purchase
  • Basic firewall configuration standards
  • Default deny approach guidance
  • Fundamental segmentation requirements
  • Semi-annual rule review framework
  • 1-year log retention guidance
  • NIST & CMMC alignment
See Full Package
Tier 3: Regulated Logistics+
$8,500 · One-time purchase
  • Advanced NGFW capability requirements
  • Zero-trust microsegmentation approach
  • Cloud & container firewall controls
  • TLS inspection implementation
  • Threat intelligence integration
  • Full NIST, CMMC, CTPAT mapping
See Full Package

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about implementing a Firewall Policy

How do we segment our logistics network effectively?
Our policy includes logistics-specific segmentation recommendations based on common operational zones. We recommend separating your network into distinct segments including: dispatch systems, TMS/WMS applications, corporate IT, vendor access, driver/mobile connectivity, and regulated data storage. The policy provides detailed VLAN planning guides for logistics environments, firewall rule templates for controlling traffic between zones, and specific configuration examples for common scenarios like isolating ELD data from general business systems or separating cross-dock operations from corporate networks. This segmentation approach helps contain breaches while maintaining operational connectivity.
How do we secure mobile driver connections?
The policy addresses the unique challenges of securing mobile driver communications with specific firewall controls for fleet connectivity. We recommend implementing a dedicated mobile access zone with VPN requirements, strong authentication, and logging of all driver connections. For ELD and telematics data, the policy outlines encryption requirements for data in transit and specific firewall rules to isolate this regulated information. We include configuration guidance for geo-location based access controls, behavioral monitoring of driver device communications, and anomaly detection to identify unusual connection patterns that could indicate compromise of driver tablets or mobile applications.
What requirements apply to cloud-based TMS systems?
Our policy includes comprehensive cloud firewall controls specifically for logistics platforms. For cloud-based TMS and dispatch systems, we recommend implementing cloud-native security groups with least-privilege access, securing API endpoints with robust authentication, and implementing web application firewalls for customer portals. The policy outlines configuration requirements for securing connections between on-premises facilities and cloud TMS environments, network traffic monitoring across hybrid infrastructure, and provides specific guidance for popular logistics platforms including SAP TM, Oracle OTM, MercuryGate, and other industry-specific solutions.
How do we manage firewall rules for vendor access?
The policy outlines a structured approach to vendor access management through firewall controls. We recommend implementing time-bound access rules with automatic expiration dates for temporary vendor projects, dedicating separate VLANs for vendor connectivity, and implementing jump servers for vendor administrative access. The policy includes a vendor rule lifecycle framework that requires regular review of vendor firewall rules (quarterly for high-risk vendors), systematic documentation of business justification for each vendor rule, and automated alerting for unusual vendor access patterns. For logistics-specific vendors like TMS support providers, we include specialized rule templates that balance necessary access with security controls.
What should we monitor in our firewall logs?
Our policy includes logistics-specific monitoring guidelines focused on key security events relevant to transportation operations. We recommend monitoring for unusual connection patterns to dispatch systems, after-hours access to shipping records, unexpected file transfers containing shipment data, connection attempts from unauthorized geographic locations, and anomalies in ELD/GPS communications. The policy outlines alerting thresholds for common logistics scenarios such as repeated failed login attempts to TMS platforms, configuration changes to firewall rules protecting regulated data, and suspicious traffic patterns that could indicate reconnaissance of your supply chain systems.

Ready to Secure Your Logistics Network?

Get a complete policy framework aligned with your compliance requirements

Get Started Today

Need help choosing the right tier? Contact Us