Unsafe websites and cyber threats pose a growing risk to companies. With the increasing appetite of ‘bad actors’ to illicitly access companies’ proprietary information to later sell it on the Dark Web, mounting a proper defence is essential.
Firewalls should be considered essential in today’s competitive business environment. The main distinction between these security solutions is that they’re either hardware-based or software-based. Both can be effective at protecting your operating systems, but hardware firewalls are preferred due to their robust capabilities.
What Does a Firewall Do and How Does It Work?
A firewall is a critical network security device that protects your network by filtering incoming and outgoing data traffic. It uses a set of security rules to allow or block traffic based on risk assessments. For example, a packet-filtering firewall evaluates data packets and decides whether they are safe to pass through.
Firewalls monitor access to your network and can block unauthorised attempts to infiltrate it. They also work at the network perimeter to prevent malicious traffic from entering, using features like network address translation (NAT) and proxy firewalls for enhanced protection. Modern firewalls incorporate advanced capabilities like real-time monitoring and adaptive security to defend against evolving threats.
Whether protecting a business or a home network, firewalls are essential for maintaining privacy and security by safeguarding network resources.
Firewall History
New and emerging cyber threats pose a continuous problem for companies, who simply cannot afford to ignore them.
Firewalls weren’t initially thought to be required for personal computers when purchased and brought into the home. Even in the business world, companies didn’t worry much about network threats as the internet wasn’t widely used as a business tool until the 1990s. To put this in perspective, Amazon.com wasn’t launched until July 16, 1995…
Even early Microsoft Windows versions like Windows XP didn’t come with an adequate software-based firewall or antivirus software. Enterprising home users tried out ZoneAlarm, an early software firewall for consumers, to add a better layer of much-needed protection.
However, as the Millennium approached, internet adoption, the use of email, and the advent of computer hacking all grew exponentially. Things were different now.
For companies needing to protect their assets, Cisco was one of the first to provide hardware router firewalls. These performed packet-level inspections to block network traffic and access attempts.
Since then, firewalls have become multi-layered, highly configurable, and come in different types and sub-types depending on what their function is.
Types of Firewalls
There are different types of firewalls, each offering varying levels of firewall protection and network security:
1. Packet-Filtering Firewalls
These basic firewalls filter traffic by examining data packets using firewall rules based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols. While efficient, they don’t inspect the content, offering limited protection against advanced threats.
2. Stateful Inspection Firewalls
Stateful inspection firewalls track the state of active connections and assess traffic context, providing enhanced firewall security compared to packet-filtering firewalls. They are widely used in both home and business networks.
3. Proxy Firewalls
These gateway firewalls act as intermediaries, filtering traffic at the application level. By analysing the content, they offer strong security technology but may impact network performance due to deeper inspections.
4. Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFWs)
NGFWs combine traditional firewall capabilities with advanced features like intrusion prevention and deep packet inspection, making them ideal for businesses requiring higher levels of network firewall security.
5. Cloud-Based Firewalls (FWaaS)
Firewall as a Service (FWaaS) provides scalable, cloud-based security, allowing businesses to protect their internal networks and remote workforces without the need for physical hardware.
6. Unified Threat Management (UTM) Firewalls
UTM firewalls integrate multiple security software tools, such as antivirus and intrusion detection, into one device, offering a convenient, all-in-one solution for business security.
7. Virtual Firewalls
These are designed to secure virtual networks, such as cloud environments and virtual machines, providing flexible protection for modern, segment-based networks.
Microbyte offers two kinds of hardware firewall options:
UniFi Switches and Routers
UniFi Security Gateway uses a compact hardware network switch with its UniFi Network app to manage it.
Network traffic monitoring, management, and routing are provided. You can manage traffic at the network and port level via their app. It has a highly visual interface and is data-driven allowing network admins to make network configuration changes or grant access to new network users, from a smartphone, tablet, or laptop device.
Hotspots can be set up for guests on the network and employees can be granted the right to use their devices, as required. Of course, Microbyte will help set this all up for your company.
Cisco Meraki
Cisco Meraki is a highly sophisticated system for larger SMEs and companies with complex network security requirements.
The Meraki Dashboard acts as a control centre for all network activities. This secure cloud solution can manage company networks, connected mobile devices, cellular gateways, sensors, smart cameras, and more.
The sophisticated network security system learns from the activities of all authorised users on the company’s networks and from their traffic patterns. It establishes which network activities are normal and which are suspect. This uses a smart learning algorithm which goes way beyond basic network rules that were established long ago.
Security updates to software and firmware updates for network hardware avoid unwanted gaps in security due to missed patches. In the past, these could have been new avenues of attack, but thanks to continual updates deployed as they become available, networks are made safer.
Additional Features of a Firewall
Block lists
Block lists are designed to help block threats before they occur. These IP blacklists are used to stop improper traffic and malicious network connection attempts originating from already known bad IPs or IP neighbourhoods.
Traffic can often be blocked on a per-country basis too. For example, when a remote employee is working abroad from one of 3 countries, network access attempts from any other country can be automatically blocked. Microbyte sets up many other access protocols and security procedures that can be deployed to verify each remote user beyond these initial steps.
Content filtering
Content filtering is increasingly required within businesses to prevent inappropriate content or improper websites from being accessed on the company network.
More sophisticated network management tools provide content filtering to better manage what happens both within the network and when using the internet too.
Real-time traffic integration
Network incoming traffic can sometimes be viewed in real-time by network managers using dashboards.
Microbyte helps you set up these dashboards to highlight when data usage has suddenly spiked, or suspicious access is occurring. Staff and network IT professionals can be immediately alerted to address the malicious traffic or network security issues to resolve them.
Let Microbyte Protect Your Business
Microbyte can assist in the installation and configuration of the best firewall for your business.
Firewalls must be properly configured to provide appropriate protection depending on the needs of the company. This is often combined with other steps such as antivirus tools at the operating system level to scan for risky email attachments and suspect file downloads.
Don’t risk a poorly configured firewall leaving your business at risk from outside threats.
FAQ
How does a firewall work to protect your computer or network?
A firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing traffic, allowing or blocking data based on a set of predefined rules. It acts as a barrier between your computer or network and external threats, preventing unauthorised access and thus providing an additional level of internet security.
Do I need a firewall at home, and how can it enhance my internet security?
Yes, having a firewall at home is essential for protecting your devices and network from potential cyber threats. Many modern routers come with a built-in firewall, but a standalone firewall can provide more customisable security options. Firewalls help block unauthorised access and safeguard sensitive information from being accessed over the internet.
What are the different types of firewalls, and how are they configured to secure a network?
There are several types of firewalls, including hardware, software, and cloud-based solutions. Each can be configured at different levels, such as the network level or specific segments within the network, to ensure optimal security. The configuration process involves setting rules to control traffic flow, preventing unauthorised access while allowing legitimate data to pass through.
