What is a Firewall?
Firewalls act as gatekeepers for your private network, regulating the flow of web traffic by allowing or blocking specific activities based on predefined rules. The term "firewall" is derived from the concept of physical barriers designed to contain fires until they can be extinguished. Similarly, in network security, firewalls are used to control the spread of potential web threats by managing and monitoring incoming and outgoing traffic.
Firewalls create strategic checkpoints, or "choke points," where web traffic is scrutinized against a set of predetermined criteria before being either permitted or denied. Many firewalls also maintain detailed logs, tracking traffic and connection attempts to provide a reference for what has been allowed or blocked.
Firewalls are generally deployed to safeguard the boundaries of a private network or individual host devices. As a key component of user access control, firewalls can be installed either on dedicated network servers or directly on user devices and other endpoints.
Key Benefits of a Firewall?
- Strengthen Network Security: Protect your network from unauthorized access and cyber threats by filtering incoming and outgoing traffic.
- Maintain Data Integrity: Safeguard sensitive information by preventing malicious activities from infiltrating your network.
- Enhance User Access Control: Regulate who can access specific parts of your network, ensuring only authorized users are granted entry.
- Monitor and Audit Traffic: Keep track of all network activity with comprehensive logging, allowing for quick identification of suspicious behavior.
- Prevent Spread of Threats: Act as a barrier to contain and mitigate the spread of potential web threats within your network.
