How to Manage Firewall Rules
A firewall is a hardware or software device that monitors network traffic and protects the internal network from unauthorized communication. In general, it is the first line of defense against viruses and malware. Firewalls are also used to keep unwanted data from reaching other devices and to limit the types of traffic that are permitted.
Whether you use a firewall or another type of security solution, it’s important to manage your rules in a timely manner. A poor or outdated policy can compromise the security of your network and even send it offline.
For example, if you’re running a web application, you may need to monitor all of the data packets that arrive on your network. You can do this by setting a rule on incoming traffic.
Similarly, if you’re protecting a low-visibility service on the Internet, you can use a firewall to block outgoing communications that are not allowed. While there are many advantages to having an Internet connection, there are also many risks. If you don’t handle your firewall rules properly, you could end up getting hacked and losing access to your data.
A good firewall policy is intent-based, trackable, and focuses on internet-specific usage issues. It also has a clear purpose and a formal change procedure.
To ensure a firewall rule is effective, you need to document the rules and their purpose across all of your devices. As with any other technology, changes to a firewall rule require a log. Also, you should regularly check for new software updates, as some of the most recent software patches address emerging security threats.