This disclosure provides example details for apparatuses and methods that manage virtual firewalls in a wireless communication network that includes a Core Network, CN, and an associated Radio Access Network, RAN. The virtual firewalls process traffic for respective wireless devices supported by the network. For example, the virtual firewall associated with a given wireless device is maintained in the RAN at the RAN node supporting the device, and is migrated from that RAN node in response to detecting a handover event involving the device. Advantageously, migration may be “horizontal,” where the associated virtual firewall is moved between nodes in the RAN, or may be “vertical,” where the associated virtual firewall is moved from the RAN to the CN.