Marcus Ranum, a pioneer in firewall technology and lead developer of the Gauntlet Firewall, shares insights into the evolution of next-generation firewalls. He discusses how these firewalls have transformed into layer 7 security orchestration platforms. Ranum highlights key advancements since the 1980s, the rise of subscription services, and the shifting market landscape. He even shares a personal anecdote from his journey in firewall development, leading to a discussion on AI-driven security solutions from companies like Vectra.