No fire sale for firewalls as memory shortages could push prices higher

PCs and datacenters aren't the only devices that need DRAM. The global memory shortage is roiling the cybersecurity market, with the cost of firewalls expected to balloon and hit both customers and vendors in the pocketbook in 2026, according to research analysts Wedbush.

The companies likely to face the biggest challenges when it comes to mitigating the cost of memory used by their best-selling products are Fortinet, Check Point, and Palo Alto Networks, according to Wedbush CEO Dan Ives, who recently conducted a channel-check conversation with Jim Gruzlewski, strategic channel and cybersecurity advisor at consultancy SecureX.

“With these DRAM impacts, many organizations looking to build next-generation firewall systems are bound to see higher bill of materials costs moving forward which may weigh on margins heading into 2026,” Wedbush wrote in a note following the conversation.

When reached by The Register, Check Point said it had nothing to add, while ...