Internet is must for any size of business today. Even if you are a small company with 5 to 10 computers you will need internet connection to browse websites, send and receive email, communicate with customers, partners and vendors or even for net banking. Now, since you have internet connection your network, computers, servers are exposed to world. You may get Virus, spyware, spam emails and many other things. Your employees will start spending more time on social networking websites like Facebook, Orkut. So, let's talk about solution.
You will need hardware firewall or UTM (AkA - Unified Threat Management) to protect your network from Virus, spyware, hackers and control internet usage. Hardware firewall or UTM also allows you to monitor internet usage, website viewed and downloads.
Let's see what is Hardware firewall and how it will help you? Hardware firewall is device which is connected between your network and your internet connection to filter all traffic coming to your network from internet and going out of your network. Generally every UTM device will have mainly 3 Zones - LAN, WAN and DMZ (Here you will connect your servers). This will allow your firewall to block or allow access to your network or from your network.
Here are some features of hardware firewall or UTM
User Authentication: User authentication is feature where your firewall will be able to identify users and you can create firewall policies, rules and website access policies based on users name instead of IP address. There are some firewall devices which allow you to use active directory sync and Single SSO.
Load Balance and Fail-over: This feature allows you to use multiple internet connections. If you have more than one internet connection, you can use both connections at same time and you can also decide who will go through which internet connection. If any of your internet connection fails, this device will automatically switch to working internet connection.
Firewall rules management: With firewall rules, you can block or open ports for incoming or outgoing traffic. You can allow or deny connection to specific IP or MAC address to access specific IP or ports.
Gateway Antivirus: Many UTM device including Cyberoam UTM comes with gateway antivirus for Web, email, FTP and HTTPs traffic. This feature will help you protect your network, servers, desktops from virus coming from internet. All these virus will be blocked before it can enter into your network.
IPS/IDS: IPS and IDS features improves your network security by monitoring traffic and protects from application level attack, and intrusion attack.
Web Filtering: Web Filtering feature allows you to block specific websites for entire company or you can also block specific website or group of website or category for specific user or group. Let me give you an example here, you will allow only bank and other commercial websites for accounts and jobs related websites to HR but social networking, chat and free email will be blocked for all.
Bandwidth Management: You can specify bandwidth to users or group. This will allow you to provide higher speed to people who need better internet speed while limiting those who do not need fast internet.
Reporting: Firewall stores logs of websites visited by users, data downloaded and time spent. You can view logs of their activity, you can also check most used categories and those who have used or downloaded maximum data.
I am sure this has given you clear picture of what Hardware Firewall or UTM can do for you and why you would need. There are many popular brands including Sonicwall, Cyberoam, Fortigate, watchuard, astaro etc.
You will need hardware firewall or UTM (AkA - Unified Threat Management) to protect your network from Virus, spyware, hackers and control internet usage. Hardware firewall or UTM also allows you to monitor internet usage, website viewed and downloads.
Let's see what is Hardware firewall and how it will help you? Hardware firewall is device which is connected between your network and your internet connection to filter all traffic coming to your network from internet and going out of your network. Generally every UTM device will have mainly 3 Zones - LAN, WAN and DMZ (Here you will connect your servers). This will allow your firewall to block or allow access to your network or from your network.
Here are some features of hardware firewall or UTM
User Authentication: User authentication is feature where your firewall will be able to identify users and you can create firewall policies, rules and website access policies based on users name instead of IP address. There are some firewall devices which allow you to use active directory sync and Single SSO.
Load Balance and Fail-over: This feature allows you to use multiple internet connections. If you have more than one internet connection, you can use both connections at same time and you can also decide who will go through which internet connection. If any of your internet connection fails, this device will automatically switch to working internet connection.
Firewall rules management: With firewall rules, you can block or open ports for incoming or outgoing traffic. You can allow or deny connection to specific IP or MAC address to access specific IP or ports.
Gateway Antivirus: Many UTM device including Cyberoam UTM comes with gateway antivirus for Web, email, FTP and HTTPs traffic. This feature will help you protect your network, servers, desktops from virus coming from internet. All these virus will be blocked before it can enter into your network.
IPS/IDS: IPS and IDS features improves your network security by monitoring traffic and protects from application level attack, and intrusion attack.
Web Filtering: Web Filtering feature allows you to block specific websites for entire company or you can also block specific website or group of website or category for specific user or group. Let me give you an example here, you will allow only bank and other commercial websites for accounts and jobs related websites to HR but social networking, chat and free email will be blocked for all.
Bandwidth Management: You can specify bandwidth to users or group. This will allow you to provide higher speed to people who need better internet speed while limiting those who do not need fast internet.
Reporting: Firewall stores logs of websites visited by users, data downloaded and time spent. You can view logs of their activity, you can also check most used categories and those who have used or downloaded maximum data.
I am sure this has given you clear picture of what Hardware Firewall or UTM can do for you and why you would need. There are many popular brands including Sonicwall, Cyberoam, Fortigate, watchuard, astaro etc.
Bhavesh is owner at Optron Technologies, with more than 6 years of experience in information technology he is managing Mumbai based IT company. He also writes articles, blogs and tutorials.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar