What are business firewalls and does my business need them?

Think of a firewall as a digital traffic cop standing guard at the entrance to your network. It's a security device that monitors and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic. By inspecting data packets, it can block malicious attempts to access your systems. In addition, firewall routes allow traffic to the correct destinations on a network. Most routers have firewalls integrated into them and are the most common types of firewalls in use.

Why do businesses need firewalls? 

In today's digital age, businesses are constantly facing threats like:

• Malware: Viruses, worms, and trojans that can damage your systems and steal data.
• Hackers: Individuals or groups that attempt to gain unauthorized access to your network.
• Phishing attacks: Attempts to trick employees into revealing sensitive information.

A firewall can help protect your business from these threats by:

• Preventing unauthorized access: It can block incoming connections from untrusted sources.
• Detecting and blocking malicious traffic: Firewalls can identify and stop attacks before they cause damage.
• Enforcing security policies: They can help you implement and maintain your company's security standards.

Does your business need a firewall? The short answer is yes, all businesses should have a firewall in place. Even small businesses can be targets of cyberattacks. A firewall is a relatively affordable investment that can provide significant protection for your valuable data and systems.

Types of Firewalls

There are several types of firewalls, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Some common types include:

• Hardware firewalls: Physical devices that sit between your network and the internet.
• Software firewalls: Applications that run on your computers or servers.
• Cloud-based firewalls: Firewalls hosted in a data center and accessed over the internet.

In my experience, the most reliable types of firewalls are hardware-based. These stand-alone devices provide higher availability than software-based devices. The problem with software firewalls is that they require the host device to always be available. Ever had a computer “crash?” If that computer is hosting your firewall, your firewall will crash too if the machine crashes.

Cloud-based firewalls are relatively new to the IT marketplace. Major vendors like Cisco and Unifi provide these types of devices that provide the flexibility of remote management and reporting from the cloud. They are “always on” and are easily configured from a web console. They are not completely cloud-based, they do require an appliance at your site to function.

A firewall is an essential security component in your network infrastructure, without which, you leave your business extremely vulnerable to being compromised.