What is a firewall?

A firewall is a software or hardware solution that controls access to a network to increase security.
A firewall monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic and blocks specific data packets based on a set of rules.
A firewall can help to prevent hackers, viruses, malware and other threats from breaching network security.

Firewalls have been a critical part of enterprise network security for many years, helping to identify and block a wide variety of threats. But what is a firewall exactly, and how does it deliver essential protection to an enterprise? Here is a brief tutorial on “What is a firewall?” that offers answers to these questions and others.

A firewall is a software or hardware device that protects a network by blocking unauthorized or malicious data packets from entering or leaving the network. Firewalls have become an integral part of network security for enterprises and consumers alike.

What is a firewall designed to do?

A firewall inspects data packets entering or exiting a network and decides whether to block them or allow them to pass them based on a set of well-defined security rules.

What is a firewall hardware device?

A hardware firewall is a standalone product that can protect every machine on a local network. A hardware firewall is costlier than a software solution and tends to be more difficult to configure and maintain.

What is a firewall software solution?

Software firewalls protect an individual computer. They are cheaper and easier to install than a hardware firewall, but they can use a large amount of system resources and may cause compatibility issues with other software.

What is a firewall type?

Types of firewall include:

A packet-filtering firewall that examines packets without knowing the packets’ context.
A stateful inspection firewall examines traffic to determine the relationship between packets.
A proxy firewall inspects packets at the application layer of the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) reference model.
A next-generation firewall takes a multilayered approach and integrates firewalls with intrusion prevention systems and application control.

What is a firewall’s greatest advantage?

A firewall provides an easy and fairly cost-effective way to keep harmful traffic from entering or exiting a network.

What is a firewall from Spectrum Enterprise?

As a leading provider of fiber solutions to enterprises throughout the country, Spectrum Enterprise provides an enterprise firewall as part of a Managed Security Service. This fully managed solution helps to improve security while reducing costs and freeing IT staff to focus on more strategic initiatives.