Most businesses run on computers these days. It’s inevitable. So, network and firewall security are essential tools to business continuity day in and day out. Afterall, your computers are talking to each other constantly—and they’re talking to other computers outside of your facility.
Let’s look at firewalls in detail, and what you should expect from your own firewall security.
What Is a Firewall?
Let’s start with the obvious: a firewall does not involve fire, not does it involve an actual wall… brick, stone or otherwise. Although there are different types of firewalls (and we won’t be getting into all of them here), a firewall serves as a virtual gateway between computers, networks, servers, and applications, controlling what passes through its protective barriers and what does not.
The term firewall comes from the practice of placing a brick wall between two adjacent structures to prevent fire from spreading from one unit to the next. Your firewall acts as a demilitarized zone; it provides a barrier of protection between computers and networks.
Here are five things your firewall security should be doing for you. And if it’s not, we at Trinity Solutions encourage you to make sure that it does.
Firewalls Handle Threat Management
Often, a company’s greatest threat is the one that comes from within. You cannot control your employees, and people are likely to click on almost anything—especially if it’s tempting or looks legitimate. A strong firewall will protect a company from itself and from others by preventing viruses, malware, malicious code and attachments, spoof attacks, and other issues from penetrating its defense system.
Next-Gen firewalls are capable of much more than their early predecessors. Today’s firewalls are built to detect and halt advanced threats and computer viruses—both internal and external.
NOTE: Firewalls are not meant to serve as a replacement for individual protection on end users’ PCs.
Firewall Security Filters Content
Your firewall security will stop viruses from spreading throughout your network. However, employees can be a business’s worst threat, from spending time on social media to suspicious links that get clicked. People look at inappropriate content, scroll through social media feeds, and download things they shouldn’t. Your firewall can keep your business secure and help employees stay on task by performing the following functions.
- Limit access to certain sites
- Limit time spent online
- Limit times of day employees access the internet
Firewalls Protect You from Data Leaks
Concerned that a rogue employee might leak sensitive data to the public or to a competitor? Or steal company data before leaving for another job? These are both real threats as well. Firewall security can provide Data Leak Prevention by scanning any data being sent from your computer system. Your firewall will detect these communications and stop them before any data is released.
Firewalls Provide Auto Failover and Load Balancing
If you need the internet for your business to remain operational, then you’ll want to activate this firewall feature. Your firewall can provide your company with two internet links and two ISPs. This feature instantly doubles your bandwidth and allows better control over your company’s essential online traffic. So, if one ISP fails, the other takes over. Plus, you can avoid suffering from a system/power outage, storm outage, temporary power loss, downed lines, human error, or similar events.
Firewalls Can Act as a Virtual Private Network
You can stay operational AND stay safe. Need your employees to be secure while working remotely? A VPN will establish secure remote sessions, and not rely on the lesser technology your staff may have at home or outside of your network. Thus, you can avoid lost productivity due to weather or other unforeseen conditions.
Firewalls can also help you segment your network. So, even if an intruder were to hack into your server and release malware or a worm, the second or third firewalls will prevent an attack on other segments of your system. The result: you are still operational, and business doesn’t come to a screeching halt.
Have questions about your firewall security?
Want to upgrade to the best protection on the market?
Call Trinity Solutions Today for Your Consultation at 336-776-0060!