Networking and SecurityHow Firewall can Help in Prevention of Network Attacks

How Firewall can Help in Prevention of Network Attacks

Introduction

The world has welcomed technological progress, with business accounting for the majority of online revenue. Technology has been evolving a lot over the years lifestyles of people have changed, yet the possibility of reversing this trend is enormous. The number of high-profile businesses falling victim to cyber-attacks has skyrocketed.

Every day, 2,200 cyber-attacks occur, averaging one every 39 seconds, according to Security Magazine. Because of cybercriminals impersonating online, everything is at risk. A firewall, on the other hand, is a device that can protect against the hostile activity.

What is a Network firewall?

A network Firewall is used as a network security device that filters traffic and prevents strangers from accessing sensitive data on your computer.

What does a firewall do?

A firewall serves as a guardian. It detects and stops illegal communication from unknown sources attempting to gain access to your operating system. A firewall is a kind of filter that sits between your computer and external networks, such as the internet.

 If you believe a firewall is a traffic controller, you are accurate. It manages network traffic to secure your network and information. A firewall blocks hackers’ malware and criminal behaviors.

 Did you know that most operating systems and security software come with a firewall pre-installed? Activate those features and adjust the security settings to guarantee that updates are performed automatically.

How does a firewall work?

The traffic is analyzed by a firewall network based on rules. The system only accepts connections that have been configured to work with it. Blocking or granting access to specific data packets conveyed over digital networks is made easier using pre-established rules. 

Remember that a firewall serves as a watchdog for the computer’s entry point. Only IP addresses from trusted sources are permitted. Internet Protocol addresses can be used to identify a computer or source.

Types of firewall:

Firewalls are available in both software and hardware. Each format has a distinct yet critical function. Hardware firewall is a physical device which sits between your network and your gateway, similar to a broadband router. So a software firewall is an internal program that works with port numbers and programs on your computer.

Cloud-based firewalls, often known as Firewall as a Service, are also available (FaaS). One of the advantages of cloud-based firewalls is that they can scale with your business and, like hardware firewalls, are effective at perimeter protection.

Firewalls are classified into numerous categories based on their structure and functioning. Various firewalls can be implemented, depending on the size of your network and the level of security you need.

Packet-filters 

It’s the most basic level of security for smaller networks. The IP protocol, IP address, and port number of network traffic are all blocked.

Firewall at the application layer 

They look at application-layer data like HTTP requests and FTP transfers. When it comes to one, it is in charge of blocking non-legitimate apps.

Firewall with stateful multilayer inspection 

Standard firewall features are provided by the stateful multilayer inspection firewall, which maintains track of established connections. It uses state, port, and protocol filters and administrator-defined rules and context to filter traffic. This entails combining data from previous connections with packets from the same one. Most firewalls use stateful packet inspection to keep track of all internal traffic. The use of multilayer monitoring elevates this Firewall above packet filtering.

However, it is still unable to discern between good and harmful online traffic. Thus additional software may be required.

Firewall with unified threat management 

A unified threat management firewall integrates the capabilities of the SMLI firewall, intrusion prevention, and antivirus into a single software. Under the UTM umbrella of services, additional services such as cloud management may be integrated.

NGFWs (Next-Generation Firewalls) 

Packet-filtering and stateful inspection firewalls are less advanced than next-generation firewalls. Why? They have higher security levels, going beyond ordinary packet filtering to examine a packet in its entirety. This entails not only checking the packet header but also the contents and source of the packet. More sophisticated and emerging security threats, such as advanced malware, can be blocked by NGFW.

Virtual firewall 

 It’s used in both private and public cloud-based systems. For both real and virtual networks, the virtual firewall monitors and regulates internet traffic.

Proxy service firewalls

The service firewall is a system that filters communications at the application layer to safeguard your network security. It simply acts as a bridge or middleman between your internal network and external web servers. It’s also known as a gateway firewall, and it’s more secure because it analyses incoming traffic using stateful and deep packet inspection technology.

Web Application Firewall (WAF)

A Web Application Firewall can be used to protect web applications from vulnerabilities unique to web applications and HTTP/S security loopholes.

In IT, digital security is divided into seven layers. WAFs provide the 7th layer of security, which is also termed application-layer security.

  • Security Layer: Network firewalls operate at layers 3-4, which covers vulnerabilities related to incoming and outgoing network traffic and data transfer. As previously established, WAFs function at layer 7, which includes application-specific vulnerabilities.
  • Focus: The difference between network firewalls and WAFs is that network firewalls protect inbound and outbound traffic, whereas WAFs safeguard applications.
  • Operation Mode: Transparent and routed modes are the two types of operation used by network firewalls. WAFs have two modes of operation: active inspection and passive inspection.
  • Placement: WAFs are situated close to the Internet-facing applications, whereas network firewalls are placed on the perimeter.
  • Attack protection: Network firewalls guard against flaws such as less secure zones and illegal access. SQL injections, DDoS, and XSS assaults are all protected by WAFs.
  • Algorithms: Packet filtering, proxy, and stateful inspection are some of the algorithms used by network firewalls. Anomaly detection, heuristics, and signature-based methods are all used by WAFs.

How does it help to Reduce Attacks at the edge?

A network firewall controls the flow of data and traffic into and out of your network. These files are called “packets,” They may or may not include malicious malware that might harm your computer.

Hackers flood your network with malware, spam, viruses, and other nefarious intent during busy days or high holiday seasons.

At this point, your Firewall applies a set of rules to all incoming and outgoing network traffic to see if it complies with those rules.

  • If it matches, the traffic is allowed to pass across the Firewall.
  • If not, the traffic is rejected or blocked.

As a result, your network is entirely safe from any threats, both internal and external.

Is it true what I said internally?

Yes, the Firewall protects not just the Internet-facing network but also the internal network. Remember that the majority of threats start from within; thus, use a firewall strategy whenever possible.

Host-based Firewalls Versus Network-based Firewalls

There are inevitable differences between host-based and network-based firewalls, along with the benefits of having both in place.

Firewalls filter traffic coming to and from secured local area networks on the internet (LAN). Businesses that need to protect a vast network of computers, servers, and personnel generally utilize them. A network-based firewall can monitor and restrict communications between a company’s computers and sources, as well as block access to certain websites, IP addresses, or other services.

Host-based firewalls are identical to host-based firewalls, except they are stored locally on a single computer or device. A host-based firewall is a software program or set of programs that allow for greater customization. They are placed on each server and control inbound and outbound traffic and decide whether or not to allow traffic to specific devices and protect the host.

Cloud-based network firewalls

Google Cloud

Google Cloud generates default firewall rules at the network level for each Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). The following rules allow you to accept or reject connections to/from your VM instances, depending on the settings.

When firewall rules are activated, your instances are protected regardless of their operating system or configuration. Your VM instances are still safe even if they aren’t running.

The Google Cloud VPC firewall rules apply both between your VM instances and the outside network, as well as between them.

  • A network is given two implied firewall rules to block incoming traffic and permit outgoing traffic.
  • Priority levels ranging between 0-65535 are supported
  • It supports only IPv4 connections.

Why do we need Firewalls?

Access is restricted – A firewall controls access to your network. It can identify inbound threats that could expose your machine to hackers.

Ensures data security – Our data is kept safe behind a firewall. Morons can gain control of your network or computer if you don’t have a firewall. Cybercriminals can destroy your information or exploit it to steal your identity or commit fraud.

Ensures that there are no network outages – Attackers are kept at bay by firewalls, making it impossible to shut down your network. It takes a long time to retrieve your data after a network attack. Firewalls are a type of security technology that works in tandem to keep your network, computer, and data safe.

Do you need a Firewall at Home?

In terms of home network security, firewalls are the first line of protection. Your home network’s security is only as strong as its weakest link. A network security system can help with this.

When it comes to protecting your home network, a firewall should not be your sole consideration. It’s critical to update your operating system, web browsers, and security software on all internet-connected devices, including mobile devices.

Another thing to think about? Keep your wireless router secure. This could include changing your router’s name from the manufacturer’s default ID and password, evaluating your security choices, and setting up a guest network for visitors to your home.

Conclusion

To protect your network from malicious intent, both external and internal, has become evident more than ever due to rampant secure invasions. Instead, don’t panic; go for a high-quality network firewall and safeguard your network and data to have peaceful nights!

Also Read: How To Setup Mod_Security Firewall On Ubuntu

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