Understanding Network Firewall Security

Posted January 14, 2020

In Blog, Cisco, Cloud Services, IT Solutions, Managed Network Services, Watchguard

Businesses that store sensitive information such as credit card numbers, financial information and patient data have long been regulated in how they handle encryption and protection of their data across networks and at rest. But in this day and age of geopolitical uncertainty, even businesses that don’t consider their data highly sensitive can be targets of hacking attempts and security breaches. This is because in today’s cyberattacks, it’s not always the data that is the target — sometimes the bad actors are simply after hardware and network access so they can use your resources to carry out a larger attack. This makes network security a priority for all businesses that manage network-accessible server resources. And understanding firewall architecture a priority for SMBs and enterprises.

A network firewall is like a doorman between your network and the public internet or any other network. The doorman is set up with various rules defining what types of traffic are allowed in and out of your network, acceptable volume levels of that traffic and even locations from where that traffic can originate. For example, a firewall may allow common web traffic over HTTP and HTTPS but be configured to completely block incoming requests for various protocols such as SMTP, SSH, FTP, Telnet, DNS, Finger and other unused services. This is like closing off unnecessary doors to the building so the doorman (firewall) can focus on monitoring access through approved entry points.

A network firewall can also be configured to limit traffic from any one source. You can relate this to the doorman who sees the same person entering and exiting the building excessively which in turn limits the ability for others to access the building. A firewall rule can be established to not allow overutilization like this so the network is more accessible to all users. Overutilization can often be an indicator of a bad actor as well as they constantly make various attempts to “guess and check” potential entry points to a network.

Today’s network firewall appliances come in tabletop and rack-mount options offering high performance, a small form factor and total security with built-in Wi-Fi capabilities.

When selecting a network firewall solution for your business, you want to consider:

Enterprise-grade security options
Simplicity of configuration and management
Performance
Integral visibility and notification systems
Future proof from a vendor that provides regular updates

It is also wise when assessing the firewall vendor, to consider if they specialize in developing and managing security products exclusively or is security simply an add-on to their long line of various product offerings. Vendors who specialize in security and firewalls can generally offer more innovation and ultimately a better product and support package due to their focus solely on security products.

At Verus, we partner with industry-leading names such as WatchGuard and Cisco to offer the latest in network firewall solutions. And as a WatchGuard Platinum Partner, we can ensure you receive the best security technology and services for your investment. If you don’t currently have a doorman watching over your network or if it’s been a while since you’ve assessed your network risk, we’re here to help.

Kyle Vinar

Kyle Vinar is Partner / President of Verus Corporation. He oversees all business operations and coaches Verus teams to continually improve on their solutions from client experience to product development and overall solution implementation. He works with all Verus resources to increase efficiencies and excellence in every aspect of their organizational roles. Kyle believes that people are the last real competitive edge that a company can have and constructing a rich culture is a vital step in running a world-class organization. Therefore he strives to create a culture within Verus that allows everyone to show up authentically and grow both personally and professionally, which in turn allows Verus Corp team members to provide clients with top-of-the-line service. Kyle helps balance strategy, capacity, and culture in such a way that has allowed Verus Corp to achieve exponential growth since he joined the company in 2013. One of Kyle’s greatest professional achievements has been in helping lay the foundation upon which Verus Corporation could be named the 2nd Best Place to Work by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. Kyle holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from St. Cloud State University. He lives in Champlin with his wife and 3 children. He has enjoyed volunteering as a soccer coach for over 6 years and was the former Director of Coaching for Rebels Soccer Club. If Kyle isn’t on the sidelines of one of his children’s soccer games or in the audience of his eldest’s musicals, he can often be found cruising scenic routes on his Harley, in a deer stand, or on the golf course.