Firewall is a network security technology that helps protect networks from unauthorized access, attack, and intrusion. Firewall technology is also used to control the flow of traffic between networks.
Firewall technology can be classified into three main categories: network-based firewalls, host-based firewalls, and intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS).
Network-based firewalls are the most common type of firewall. They are located on the network perimeter and use network connections to detect and block incoming traffic.
Network-based firewalls can be configured to block all traffic, allow specific traffic types through, or allow traffic through on a per-session basis.
Host-based firewalls are used to protect individual computers on a network. Host-based firewalls are installed on each computer and use the computer’s own resources to block incoming traffic.
Host-based firewalls can be configured to block all traffic, allow specific traffic types through, or allow traffic through on a per-application basis.
Intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) are used to monitor activity on a network and detect unauthorized activity. IDSs/IPSs can be installed on the network perimeter or on internal systems.
IDSs/IPSs can be configured to monitor all traffic or specific traffic types. IDSs/IPSs can also be configured to flag suspicious activity and send alerts to administrators.
