Firewall
In today’s connected world, one of the most essential considerations that all business’s and individuals need to address is , the control and access to resources within the company, both from within side the Local Network as well as from the broader Internet.
Unwanted programs can be installed by both incoming and outgoing traffic from or to the internet. These programs can result in data loss, intellectual property theft and the interruption of the business’s day to day operations via the deletion or modification of files and information.
The original term was used to describe a barrier placed between two adjoining buildings to prevent the spread of fire between them. A firewall, in computer networks, regulates and monitors in both incoming and outgoing traffic. The firewall thus enforces a barrier between the private network and the greater internet in order to prevent internet threats causing harm to the local network.
The firewall is an important component of the overall security strategy as it establishes a first line defence against unauthorized access to corporate resources.
It makes use of configurable rules to filter incoming and outgoing data packets ( between computers and or between different networks ) that are designed to prevent exposure of the Local network. When combined with Anti virus measures, anti spam measures, Intrusion detection software ( such as SNORT ) and strong password authentication, the firewall becomes an integral part of a layered security approach that can greatly reduce the exposure to threats inherent in the Online world that we rely on for so-much of our daily activities.
A firewall in it’s self though is not a magic bullet and must always be deployed as part of an integrated and multi-layered security system that can adapt to the constant changing internal and external threats that our networks are exposed to.