What is a firewall – the types and value of quality protection

Even if you are new to the Internet, you have heard of firewalls. It is one of the fundamental means of protection online. A physical firewall in a building won’t let the fire spread. A cyber-firewall won’t let the malicious digital agents enter your machine and spread over your network.

A hardware firewall plays an essential role in network security, particularly for home networks and IoT devices. Integrated into routers, it requires minimal configuration and provides a protective layer against vulnerabilities in connected devices.

What is a firewall, and how it works in network security

A firewall is a software that filters your traffic, both incoming and outgoing. It guards the entry points (ports) of the device you use to surf the Web. All the data packets are scrutinized by the firewall that has a robust library of threats and rules. It analyzes the traffic and either allows the data packets or blocks them.

Thus, firewalls catch viruses and other malware. They repel the hackers’ attacks and protect your environment from any unauthorized access. Firewalls act as intermediaries for internal and external networks, enhancing security by inspecting data packets and filtering out threats. With the regular updates, firewalls always stay informed about all kinds of new threats. You yourself can allow or disallow access according to the domain names, protocols, IP addresses, or just keywords. This way, you ensure that only trusted “visitors” can enter your network.

Definition of a Firewall

A firewall is a crucial network security device or software program designed to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. Acting as a barrier between a trusted internal network and an external network, such as the internet, a firewall prevents unauthorized access and malicious activity. Whether hardware-based, software-based, or a combination of both, firewalls are essential for protecting computer networks, devices, and data from various types of cyber threats. By scrutinizing data packets and enforcing security policies, firewalls ensure that only legitimate traffic is allowed, thereby safeguarding your network security.

Importance of Firewalls in Network Security

Firewalls are indispensable in the realm of network security, serving as the first line of defense against external threats like hackers, malware, and other cyber attacks. By preventing unauthorized access to network resources, firewalls protect sensitive data and maintain the privacy and security of computer systems and networks. When combined with an intrusion prevention system (IPS), firewalls are even more effective in thwarting malware and application layer attacks. By meticulously controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic, firewalls help to prevent cyber attacks, protect sensitive data, and uphold the security and integrity of computer systems and networks.

Different types of firewalls for managing network traffic

Speaking of the types of firewalls, we should pay attention to the different classifications. The firewalls can be grouped by installation or by filtering settings.

By installation:

• Software firewalls
• Hardware firewalls
• Cloud firewalls

By filtering:

• Packet-filtering firewalls
• Circuit-level gateways
• Stateful inspection firewalls
• Application-level gateways (proxy firewalls)
• Unified threat management (UTM) firewalls
• Next-generation firewalls (NGFW)

Additionally, the concept of secure access service edge (SASE) plays a crucial role in comprehensive cybersecurity solutions for hybrid work environments, combining networking and security services to safeguard data and applications.

Now, let’s dive deeper.

Types of firewalls by installation: software firewalls

• Software firewalls, or host-based firewalls, are applications installed on your devices. A software firewall runs on computers or devices, monitoring network traffic and intercepting malicious threats, especially when users are on-the-go. Modern OS, both desktop and mobile, come with predefined firewalls. Users can also install extra software guardians. However, this type of firewall is suitable for individual use mostly. Network environments require more advanced solutions.
• Hardware firewalls are physical devices. Instead of installing them on every machine, you’ll need to position these devices, attach them with wires, and connect them to power sources. The installation process takes more time and effort, but it is the right solution for the business level. That’s why the network firewalls are hardware.
• Cloud-based firewalls are becoming more and more popular these days as businesses tend to switch online to achieve more flexibility and scalability. Thus, cloud firewalls become an integral part of such environments. Their primary advantage is the possibility to manage traffic much faster and easier.

Types of firewalls by filtering: stateful inspection firewalls

• Packet-filtering firewalls check the data packets that pass through the router. It relates to the IP addresses, port numbers, and other details on the surface level. They can’t access and analyze the contents, but inspecting the available allows them to protect your devices from threats.
• Circuit-level gateways check the source of the data packets and nothing more. The source must be approved by the TCP handshake. However, even in the case of a successful TCP handshake, the data packet may include malicious elements. It’s better not to rely on such a solution only.
• Stateful inspection firewalls combine the features of the two above types. The firewall decides whether to allow any specific data packet. The decision depends on the admin’s rules and the previous history. The firewall will check how it treated the traffic coming from that connection before.
• Application-level gateways/proxy firewalls rely on the proxy server first. The traffic comes through it first. At that stage, the firewalls analyze the data packets in-depth. It is only when they match the required criteria the firewall can let them enter the system.
• A unified threat management firewall (UTM firewall) is a complex solution. First, it checks the surface-level details about the sender and the connection. Then, it enhances the functionality by additional elements. These are antivirus and intrusion prevention modules.
• Next-generation firewall (NGFW) is a common name. Such new powerful firewalls have the best functionality of all. Besides all the standard options, NGFW should prevent all kinds of intrusions, block threatening apps, and improve protection techniques continually.

Unfortunately, there isn’t a standard comprehensive definition of an NGFW firewall. However, if you choose a software guardian for your system, you will most likely deal with NGFW one. So, refer to the official specifications and get familiar with the capabilities of this particular solution.

If you are concerned about your safety online, you will surely apply a firewall. They should be the modern NGFW solutions. Also, you need to take care of both the device and the network. That’s why the combination of hardware and software firewalls is the default these days. However, it is not the only tool in your possession.

Using VPN as an additional security level protects you with its own firewall too. For instance, there is a popular VeePN provider. Besides masking your IP address and unblocking access to the resources, it can filter connections. Adjust the VPN work to allow or disallow specific ports, and VeePN will guard your Internet connection on any device and at any location.

Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)

Next-generation firewalls (NGFWs) represent a significant advancement in network security devices, offering a higher level of protection compared to traditional firewalls. These advanced firewalls combine the capabilities of traditional firewalls with additional features such as intrusion prevention systems (IPS), application awareness, and secure sockets layer (SSL) inspection. NGFWs are designed to provide comprehensive security by not only filtering traffic but also by understanding the context of the traffic, making them a vital component in modern network security strategies.

Features of NGFWs

NGFWs come equipped with a range of features that enhance their effectiveness over traditional firewalls, including:

• Deep Packet Inspection (DPI): This feature allows NGFWs to examine the contents of data packets, enabling them to detect and prevent malware.
• Application Awareness: NGFWs can identify and control specific applications and protocols, ensuring that only authorized applications are allowed.
• Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS): These systems detect and prevent intrusion attempts, adding an extra layer of security.
• Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Inspection: By decrypting and inspecting encrypted traffic, NGFWs can identify and block malicious content hidden within SSL traffic.
• Reputation-Based Malware Detection: This feature blocks known malicious sites and IP addresses, preventing access to harmful resources.
• Intent-Based Networking: NGFWs provide secure access to cloud-based applications and data, ensuring that network connections are safe and reliable.

Firewall Deployment and Management

Effective firewall deployment and management are critical components of network security. Firewalls can be deployed in various configurations, including network-based, host-based, and virtual firewalls. Network-based firewalls protect entire networks, while host-based firewalls safeguard individual devices. Virtual firewalls, on the other hand, are designed for virtual environments, providing flexible and scalable security solutions. Proper deployment ensures that firewalls are positioned to effectively monitor and control network traffic, while ongoing management ensures that they remain up-to-date and effective against emerging threats.

Configuring and Managing Firewall Rules

Configuring and managing firewall rules is essential to ensure that firewalls effectively prevent unauthorized access and malicious activity. Firewall rules should be based on the organization’s security policies and regularly reviewed and updated to remain effective. These rules can be configured to allow or block traffic based on various criteria, including source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and protocols. By carefully managing firewall rules, organizations can ensure that their network security firewalls provide robust protection against cyber threats, safeguarding their network resources and maintaining the integrity of their network connections.

Conclusion

New firewall solutions enter the market daily. They offer more functionality, easier and more flexible configurations, and faster operation. There is always a choice and a possibility to protect yourself with the best solution. A virtual private network (VPN) also plays a crucial role in providing secure and encrypted internet connections, complementing the protection offered by firewalls. Or a combination of such.

Written by Conspiracy

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