What are the different types of firewalls?

Technology continues to be an important weapon in the arsenal of enterprise network security, despite the fact that it has been more than forty years since the concept of the network firewall was first brought up in the context of the discussion on network security. The usefulness of the firewall, which is a device that filters out malicious traffic before it has the opportunity to enter the network perimeter, has been proven over the course of several decades that has worked well.

In spite of this, advancements have significantly contributed to the expansion of the capabilities of the firewall as well as the deployment alternatives that it provides. This is true for any important tool that has been used for a long time. In the early days of the Internet, system managers found that people from outside their networks were hacking into their perimeters. This is where the firewall came from. This is where the defense started. There had to be a way to look at the network data in order to find any clear signs of cyberattacks.

How do the various kinds of firewalls interact with one another?

A firewall is often installed by placing it inline across a network connection and then monitoring all of the traffic that is going over that intersection. This is the traditional way of installing network security. As a result of this process, they are able to determine which packets are part of an attack and which network protocol data is not malicious.

A firewall is a type of network security device that is designed to filter out potentially harmful content by monitoring traffic and comparing it to a predetermined set of criteria. Technological advancements in the field of information security have made it possible to take advantage of patterns in network data that have previously been used to identify attacks on other companies.

Furthermore, this is in spite of the fact that no security solution is capable of accurately predicting the purpose of all information. The rules that specify the conditions under which a given packet or combination of packets in a transaction can be safely routed forward to the intended destination are applied by every firewall. These rules are referred to as the rules regarding the conditions. It is still the case that the five distinct types of firewalls continue to play significant roles in the systems that are utilized in business environments.

What are different types of firewalls?

1. Internal firewall

A network’s internal firewall targets security threats that have breached perimeter defenses. Internal firewalls focus on network traffic rather than external threats. This matters since not all dangers are online. Unintentional staff faults or deliberate intent might cause problems. This firewall uses Zero Trust. A network-based activity doesn’t guarantee trust.

The firewall prevents threats from spreading by segmenting the network into zones with their own security procedures. For instance, micro segmentation divides the network into smaller, isolated zones to improve security. These solutions may also use intelligent automation to update security rules based on observed and established safe behaviors, providing continuous and dynamic protection.

2. Distribute firewall

Distributed firewalls protect an organization’s infrastructure. Distributed firewalls cover a network, unlike classic firewalls, which focus on one node. They monitor and regulate traffic using several technologies to provide comprehensive protection. Distributed firewalls can monitor internal and external traffic, a major benefit. Traditional firewalls targeted external threats. However, internal traffic monitoring has become essential as security risks evolve.

More extensive protection is provided by distributed firewalls, which examine network traffic both within and outside. Scalability and efficiency are other distributed firewall traits. They avoid congestion by decentralizing traffic monitoring among multiple devices or nodes. This distributed nature allows the firewall system to scale as an organization or traffic grows without affecting performance or security.

3. Hardware firewall

A hardware firewall separates a computer or network from the internet. It checks inbound and outbound traffic for security rules independently of the host device. Hardware firewalls detect and block threats by actively processing data packets, preventing cyberattacks. Hardware firewalls work by connecting directly to the internet source and target network or system.

This device must process all internet traffic once implemented. Predefined security policies guide data packet inspection. The internal network receives only secure and legitimate data because malicious traffic is prevented. Intercepting threats before they reach inside systems is proactive network security.

4. Software firewall

A software firewall, which can be installed on servers or virtual machines to safeguard cloud environments, is a firewall that comes in the form factor of software rather than a physical appliance. In situations when deploying physical firewalls is challenging or impossible, software firewalls are intended to safeguard sensitive information, workloads, and applications.

The same firewall technology that powers hardware firewalls is also present in software firewalls. They provide a variety of deployment choices to accommodate the requirements of contemporary cloud apps and hybrid/multi-cloud setups. Any virtualized network or cloud environment can be equipped with software firewalls.

5. Host-Based Firewall

A host-based firewall is a piece of software that runs on a single network device. It is placed directly on computers or other devices, adding an extra layer of defense against possible threats. It successfully blocks harmful content by looking at the device’s incoming and outgoing traffic. This stops malware, viruses, and other bad things from getting into the system.

Host-based firewalls work with perimeter-based systems in places where network security is very important. At the device level, host-based firewalls improve security, while perimeter defenders protect the edges of the network as a whole. This dual protection approach makes sure that even if a threat gets past the network’s main defenses, each computer will still be safe.

6. Perimeter Firewall

A perimeter firewall separates a private network from the internet. This firewall inspects every data byte trying to pass through as the primary defense. This protects the private network from unwanted and hazardous data. A perimeter firewall differentiates and allows or blocks traffic depending on pre-defined parameters to ensure only valid and safe data enters. A perimeter firewall’s capacity to identify data packets determines its effectiveness. The header and payload of each packet are examined to establish intent.

This degree of examination helps identify malware and cyberattack warning signs, enabling timely prevention. The perimeter firewall monitors internal and external traffic. External traffic comes from the internet, whereas internal traffic comes from people, devices, and systems. These firewalls must manage external traffic due to the amount and variety of internet threats. Technology has changed perimeter firewall architecture and these improvements strengthen defenses and protect private networks.

7. Packet Filtering Firewall

It is the job of packet filtering firewalls at the network layer to control the flow of data bits between networks. These firewalls use rules that have already been set up to check certain aspects of the packets, like the source IP address, the target IP address, the ports, and the protocols. The packet can get through if its attributes fit the rules that have already been set. It’s stopped if it doesn’t. It’s possible to further divide packet filtering firewalls into four groups: stateless packet filtering firewalls, dynamic packet filtering firewalls, and static packet filtering firewalls.

8. Web Application Firewall

Web application firewalls (WAFs) safeguard web apps, servers, and APIs. It filters HTTP traffic to protect web applications from XSS, SQL injection, and file inclusion. WAFs specialize in Layer 7 application layer threats. Web application-facing WAFs are reverse proxies. This means they intercept and examine web application requests to ensure only legitimate traffic passes through. To avoid attacks, suspicious or malicious traffic is banned immediately. This architecture improves web application security and protects them from online attacks. Policies or guidelines help WAFs operate efficiently. These rules distinguish harmful from benign traffic for the firewall. These policies can be changed quickly to respond to new threats or attack trends. These rules must be updated often.

9. Proxy firewall

Proxy firewalls protect networks at the application layer. A gateway firewall, application firewall, or intermediary firewall filters messages between computer systems and external servers. It protects network resources from cyberattacks. Proxy firewalls decrypt and analyze application protocol traffic more than conventional firewalls. They monitor network traffic for cyberattacks and malware. Firewalls operate using their own IP addresses.

This design prevents foreign networks from accessing the protected internal network. Proxy firewalls work simply yet effectively. Proxy gateways connect network computers to the internet. Proxy firewalls intercept user requests to external websites and services. This firewall checks the request against its policies. The user’s connection is made if safe. This way, the proxy firewall establishes only permitted and safe connections.

How do you select the appropriate firewall for a commercial network?

It’s important to have a thorough understanding of the network architecture, protected assets, and unique organizational requirements when choosing a firewall for a business network. Establishing the firewall’s technical goals should come first. Assess whether a more complex firewall is necessary for the network or if a more basic one will do. To begin with, it’s critical to take into account the kind of network, value of assets, budget, and anticipated traffic. Examine the integration of firewall products with the current infrastructure. Lastly, remember to take any data protection laws and compliance standards into account.

Conclusion-

One of the main security issues facing all contemporary enterprises is firewall architecture. Every business needs to lock down sensitive data and secure the perimeter of its network. However, there are a lot of factors to consider when deciding between the different kinds of firewalls. Firewalls, both software and hardware, work well for enterprises that have a lot of on-premises equipment. Additionally, hybrid technologies combine local perimeter security with cloud security.

Next-generation firewall technology can optimize data security for businesses managing financial or health data. Alternatives at the circuit level or lightweight packet filtering are better suited for less stringent regulatory settings. Determine your requirements and the best firewall configuration. Additionally, firewalls should be included in networks that have subnet or dual-homed, screened hosts. Strong edge protection and dependable network security will be the end result.