IT Security Solutions: Firewalls

If you are investigating IT Security, you understand that a firewall is meant to prevent unauthorized access to an Intranet or private network, and it does this by analyzing all the incoming data packets in order to block what does not meet the security criteria.  There are several different types of firewalls, including the following four types:

• Packet layer: analyses network traffic at the transport protocol layer.
• Circuit level: validates that packets are either connection or data packets.
• Application layer: ensures valid data at the application level before connecting. 
• Proxy server: intercepts all messages entering or leaving the network.

For firewall solutions, WavesCo recommends the Cisco adaptive security appliances [1].  If you need more than a firewall, you may be interested in a Unified Threat Management System [2] which can provide you with a unified solution that not only provides firewall services, but also adds on additional services such as:

• Firewall/VPN (SSL and IPSec)
• IDS/IPS
• Gateway antivirus and antispyware
• Antispam
• Web filtering/Content filtering