Cybercrime has become an enormous issue in recent times and has been accelerated greatly by the rise of remote work during COVID-19. Cybercriminals will target businesses of all sizes and in all industries and attacks can inflict damage in many ways, including theft, downtime and ruining a brand’s reputation.
The good news is that cybersecurity products can help to provide robust protection against cybercriminals. One of the key pieces of cybersecurity that every organization needs to use to protect itself is a firewall. Keep reading to find out all that you need to know about firewalls and how they can protect your business from cybercrime.
What Is A Firewall?
So, what exactly is a firewall? This is a security application that will act as a barrier between a computer or local network and another network (most commonly the internet). The firewall will then actively scan and control the incoming and outgoing network based on a set of predetermined rules. This allows users to stop unauthorized access from hackers and keep their sensitive data safe.
How Do They Work?
A firewall works by the user first establishing a set of rules for the application to follow. You must configure a firewall based on your needs and establish what incoming connections are allowed and block any data packets that are not on the green list. Essentially, a firewall will act as a gatekeeper and analyze traffic based on the rules provided.
Types Of Firewalls
There are both hardware and software firewalls that can be used to protect your computer and network. Both have benefits and drawbacks, so you always need to weigh these up before making a decision.
Hardware: Hardware firewalls are physical devices that are commonly used for protecting multiple computers and controlling network activity trying to pass through. They provide an additional line of defense by stopping attacks from physically reaching devices, but as separate devices, they can be harder to set up and maintain.
Software: A software firewall is usually built-in with an operating system, but you can also use external software firewalls. Software firewalls are able to control specific network behavior of individual applications, which can make them easier to configure. Despite this, they are located on the same system that they are protecting which can make it harder to detect and stop attacks.
Choosing A Firewall
As a firewall plays such an important role in cybersecurity for businesses and individual users, it is important to take your time to find the right one for your needs. You should always buy from a reputable supplier, such as a Watchguard firewall, and spend some time researching different options online and reading previous customer reviews.
A firewall is one of the best ways that a user can protect their computer and network from malicious attacks. A firewall can prevent unauthorized users from gaining access, but it is also important to be aware of the different kinds of firewalls and to set the rules so that you can form a stronger barrier based on your needs.
