A system and method for managing a hybrid firewall solution, employing both hardware and software firewall components, for a cloud computing data center is provided. A virtual application is hosted by a first plurality of application virtual machines and a second plurality of firewall virtual machines provides firewalling services for traffic associated with the virtual application. A cloud management entity determines that the virtual application requires an increased number of application virtual machines. A security profile for the virtual application is verified to determine if an increased number of firewall virtual machines is required by the increased number of application virtual machines. The cloud management entity can instantiate additional application virtual machines and firewall virtual machines as required.