Everything You Need to Know About Network Security Hardware
There are a number of online threats out there that face businesses and everyday people in the modern age. This can be a scary thought, but luckily, where there are problems, there are also solutions. If you use the proper available devices, you will make it much easier for you to defend your network. Some of the most common network security hardware that is available and what it is able to do for your business will be discussed in more detail below.
Firewalls
A firewall is a great device that you can use in order to keep your information secure, as it acts as the first line of defense for a network. You can use it as a device on its own, but then there is also the choice to use it alongside other infrastructure devices, whichever works best for you. It is available as a hardware solution or a software solution. For more information on firewalls, be sure to look at the SonicWall firewalls that are available.
They work by excluding unwanted network traffic from entering the system that you use. It depends on the policy you install just how strict this will be as some disallow some traffic whereas others disallow all of it. The most common policies include:
- Whitelisting: This is where the firewall that you are using denies all connections apart from those that have been listed as acceptable.
- Blacklisting: This firewall is a bit different as it allows for all connections except for those that you have listed as unacceptable.
There are a number of different types of firewalls which include:
- Packet-filtering firewalls
- Proxy firewalls
- Web application firewalls
- Stateful packet-filtering firewalls
Intrusion Detection Systems
This sounds like a fancy word for a burglar alarm, and in a sense, that’s what it is. Once they are installed, they are able to look out for any kind of malicious software or hackers that might be on your network and then remove them from the network as a result. They will then use the data collected from the potential threat in order to further improve the security of the network. As such, the security can continue improving as time goes on and threats potentially evolve. These systems can also help administrators correctly identify the vulnerabilities and exploits that a potential attacker might decide to target.
The systems can be grouped into a few different categories, which include the following:
- Host-based IDS
- Network-based IDS
- Intrusion prevention system (IPS)
Conclusion
If you, be it in your business or personal life, decide that you want to ensure the networks and software you use are as secure as possible, then it is a good idea to look up some of the best network security hardware that’s out there. There are a lot of choices, and the best will vary on your needs, but some of the most popular are those which are listed above.
