Depending on your business’s needs, you may need to set up a firewall to protect your business from malicious attacks by hackers or other threats on the Internet. The type of firewall you use will vary depending on the level of protection your business needs and the size of your network and its layout. This article breaks down each type of firewall and architecture so you can choose the right one for your business, no matter how big or small it is. Here are The Different Firewall Types & Architectures
What is a firewall?
A firewall is a security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. There are several different types of firewalls, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The type of firewall you choose should be based on your specific needs and security requirements. All firewalls provide protection from outside attacks, but the degree to which they do so varies depending on the type. Here’s an overview of some common firewall types
Three main types of firewalls
There are three main types of firewalls – network firewalls, host-based firewalls, and application-level firewalls. Network firewalls are deployed at the network perimeter and protect the entire network from external threats. Host-based firewalls are installed on individual servers and work to protect those specific systems. Application-level firewalls focus on protecting specific applications from attack. A DMZ is a buffer zone that houses both a network firewall and a host-based firewall. A proxy server can be used as an additional layer of protection by caching content and filtering requests before they reach the destination server. However, this approach may cause poor performance due to bandwidth limitations.
Packet filtering
A software firewall system uses packet filtering to control the traffic that is allowed to enter and exit a network. Packet filtering inspects each packet that passes through the firewall and compares it to a set of rules. If the packet matches a rule, it is allowed to pass; if it does not match, it is blocked. Incoming packets are checked against a list of known good hosts or IP addresses, which may be predetermined by an administrator or automatically assigned to particular users. Outgoing packets are compared against a list of bad addresses such as IP addresses belonging to spammers or hackers.
Circuit-level gateways
A circuit-level gateway filters traffic at the network layer, examining each packet and making a decision based on the source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and other data in the packet header. This type of firewall can be very effective, but it doesn’t do anything to protect against attacks that exploit application-level vulnerabilities. If you’re looking for comprehensive protection, you’ll need to combine a circuit-level gateway with other security measures. This is one of The Different Firewall Types & Architectures
Stateful inspection
A stateful inspection firewall is a type of firewall that tracks the state of each individual connection traversing the firewall and makes sure that only legitimate traffic is allowed. This type of firewall typically uses a set of rules to determine what traffic is allowed and what isn’t. The best way to think about this type of firewall is as a person who checks your ID card at the entrance, then compares it with his own ID card. Once he has verified your identity, he lets you in. If someone were to come up behind you and try to go through the door without an ID card. He would stop them from entering because they are not on his list.
Application gateways
An application gateway, also known as a layer 7 firewall, is a type of firewall that uses application-level filtering to control traffic. This means that it can inspect and filter traffic based on specific criteria. Such as the content of the data or the specific application being used. Application gateways are often used to control access to sensitive data or systems, or to prevent certain types of attacks.