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Firewall is a network security system that monitors incoming and outgoing data packets to enforce predetermined security rules. As a key part of any layered defense strategy, firewalls prevent cyberattacks, safeguard private information, and keep digital environments healthy.

A firewall provides a critical barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks like the internet. The term is derived from the building industry where a wall can prevent a fire from spreading from one room to another. Firewalls do the same for a business’s IT setup by blocking data transfer between devices within an organization.

There are five main types of firewalls to choose from, each offering a different level of protection. Each has its own strengths and weaknesses, but they can all be used together to create a robust security solution that can handle any threat.

Access control lists (ACLs) define rules for traffic to pass through the firewall based on a set of criteria including source, destination, port, and protocol. Next generation firewalls (NGFW) and web application firewalls are more advanced and inspect data packets at the network layer, checking for patterns that indicate potential threats like malware and other malicious software.

Proxy firewalls are a type of firewall that acts as an intermediary for data packets. When a PC tries to communicate directly with a server on the internet, the proxy firewall fetches the data and then relays it, preventing direct system access. Stateful inspection firewalls can also prevent unauthorized communication by monitoring the status of outbound data packets.