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What is a Firewall? And why do you need one?

Blog

Emily Keeling

Marketing Manager

Today, you can access more knowledge than at any other time in history – including personal information belonging to 4.9 billion people worldwide. The downside is that these people also have access to you. Your data can be stolen, and your computer can be controlled or even destroyed. Firewalls are a great way to increase the security of your network.

A firewall acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network, and external networks such as the internet. Firewalls monitor and control information passing through the network based on a set of rules or policies and filters out anything potentially dangerous while letting anything it deems safe through. They protect against unauthorised access, hackers, malware, and security threats. Firewalls ultimately act as security guards for your network, enhancing security and privacy.

Firewall access rules can be customised by businesses to permit or deny specific network connections or services based on predetermined policies. They’re not one-size-fits-all, so you can increase the security to suit your needs.

Traffic filtering examines incoming and outgoing network traffic, to highlight and remove malicious or suspicious data packets. This reduces the risk of malware infections, or unauthorised data breaches. Advanced firewalls can even detect and block intrusion attempts, providing an additional layer of protections against unauthorised access or hacking attempts.

By monitoring and controlling network traffic, firewalls help to maintain the privacy of sensitive or personal information, preventing any data leaks or unauthorised exposure. Not only does this maintain a user’s privacy, but also their safety.

In conclusion, in today's interconnected world where access to information is abundant, the need for network security has become paramount. Investing in a reliable firewall solution is an essential step in enhancing network security and preserving both privacy and safety in the digital landscape.

Want to learn more about firewalls? Need a new firewall, or want to replace your old one? Get in touch to discuss.