What is a Firewall?
A firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing data packets to prevent unauthorized users from accessing your computer, business networks, and online transactions. It blocks incoming threats by analyzing and filtering traffic, based on a set of pre-programmed rules that dictate what can or cannot enter your networks.
Firewalls are either software or hardware. They secure networks by blocking unauthorized communication between devices (including the internet) and a computer, home network, or mobile device. Firewalls check incoming and outgoing communications from a variety of factors, including the source and destination address, the contents of each data packet, and what types of internet protocols (TCP/IP, ICMP, DNS, etc.) are being used.
The first firewalls began in 1989, with a packet-filtering approach that examined individual data packets and determined whether they could be trusted or not. This was the basis of most early firewall products, but these had limitations in terms of identifying malicious code and other advanced attacks.
Next-generation firewalls (NGFW) began in 2010, and combine traditional capabilities with new, advanced features such as intrusion prevention, deep-packet inspection, web traffic monitoring, and more. As a result, they are more effective at defending against emerging and sophisticated attacks than earlier iterations of firewalls.
Modern firewall technology offers more advanced protections against known and unknown malware, phishing, ransomware, botnets, DDoS, and other threats by using inline deep learning engines. These technologies analyze and identify connections in real-time, resulting in superior performance, automated workflows, and reduced risk.