What is a Firewall?
Firewall is a network security device, either hardware or software, that establishes a barrier between a secured internal network and an external untrusted network (such as the Internet). A firewall monitors all incoming and outgoing data packets and based on a set of pre-configured rules accepts, rejects or drops the traffic. Its main function is to prevent malicious packets from entering the guarded network.
It can also detect and stop cyberattacks by blocking unsolicited and unwanted incoming packets such as hacker attacks, malware, viruses, and other suspicious activity. It helps keep devices and servers protected from hackers injecting viruses and other malware into the servers and can protect sensitive information like passwords from being exposed.
Depending on your network security needs, you can choose to use a packet filtering firewall or a stateful firewall. Packet filtering firewalls inspect each data packet that reaches your server based on its source, destination and port number or application protocols. Stateful firewalls on the other hand monitor the flow of states in your network which can be manipulated by attackers to enter into your system.
A firewall is a fundamental piece of a security infrastructure and shouldn’t be overlooked. We strongly recommend all our clients consider deploying a firewall to ensure they’re not leaving their networks open to unwanted attack. As a proud Cisco shop, Liquid Web offers various hardware firewall devices and fully managed networking services. If you’re interested in deploying a firewall for your business, contact us today!