Network Security - All About Firewalls

The Importance of Firewalls to Network Security

Most networks should have a firewall in place before they are up
and running. A firewall is the most common form of network
security employed by companies large and small. If you own a
personal computer your anti-virus software company may at one
time or another have offered you firewall protection.

A firewall on a home network is just as important as one on a
corporate network. Why? Most smaller networks have as many
security issues that larger corporate networks have. A firewall
helps protect a network against potential data loss, corruption
and hackers.

What Is A Firewall

A firewall is nothing more than a fancy term used to describe a
blockade that prevents outside forces from accessing your
network. It is called a firewall because it prevent information
or data loss from one place to another. Typically a firewall is
some program or hardware that you have to install in your
computer that helps filter information coming from the Web to
your computer network. A firewall provides a series of filters
that screens information allowing only safe information to pass
through to your network.

In a large company, multiple computers are often linked using
network cards. Companies usually provide multiple connections to
the Internet. In order to protect all of these computers a
firewall is necessary so that only certain people can access
corporate computers through the Web (those that are authorized
to do so). While a firewall is not foolproof it basically does a
good job of protecting computers from Internet threats at their
connection points.