Firewall is a security device or software used to protect your computer network and systems against cyber attacks. Firewall monitors incoming traffic over the internet or network and filters it according to certain rules. This prevents malicious software from entering your network or unauthorized access.
Firewall software can protect your business, but it is not enough on its own. Firewall is only the first line of defense and should be used in conjunction with other security measures. For example, antivirus software is used to detect and remove malware, while updates and patch management are important to keeping your business network safe from current threats. In addition, it is important to raise awareness of business personnel about safe internet use.
What is Firewall?
A Firewall is a network security device that monitors inbound and outbound network traffic and filters traffic according to a set of predefined security policies, blocking traffic as needed. Firewall prevents the attack by analyzing the incoming traffic according to the determined rules and then blocking the traffic from unsafe or suspicious sources.
Firewall can be thought of as gated borders or gateways that manage the traffic of allowed and prohibited web activity on a network. Firewall not only blocks unwanted traffic but can also prevent malware from infecting systems. Firewall provides different levels of protection. The important point here is to determine how much protection the system needs.
Operating systems and security software usually come with a pre-installed firewall. It can be installed as standalone software or cyber security can be used in conjunction with programs. It is necessary to make sure that the firewall is turned on in the system. You can also check your security settings to make sure they are configured to run updates automatically.
To protect their systems and secure their communications, businesses often use a software firewall on all employee computers and larger hardware firewalls to protect the entire network. This security feature means that inbound traffic must pass through at least two different firewalls. In general, this system security measure taken by businesses is preferred in order to provide protection from major damages that may occur.
Can firewall software adequately protect your business?
Firewall software can protect your business from many cyber threats, but it is not enough on its own to provide adequate protection. Firewall monitors traffic entering and leaving your network, detecting and blocking malicious traffic. In this way, malware and cyber attacks can be prevented.
However, there are also more advanced attack techniques that cyber attackers can use. For example, phishing attacks require malicious email and content filtering features. To protect against such attacks, many businesses purchase security software packages. These packages also include anti-virus, anti-malware, anti-spam and other additional security features.
In summary, firewall software can protect your business from many cyber threats, but it is not enough on its own. To fully protect your business, it is recommended to invest in security software packages. It is also important to regularly update security software and be aware of network security.
What are Firewall Types?
When the firewall types are examined, the firewall, which is applied as hardware-based, software-based or a combination of both, is one of the important security measures because it is usually the first line of defense against malware, viruses and attackers trying to enter the internal network and systems of businesses.
Firewall is divided into 2 according to its structure;
Software Based Firewall
The software-based firewall is installed separately on individual devices. They provide more granular control while allowing access to one app or feature while blocking the others. However, since they use the CPU and RAM of the devices they are installed on, they can be expensive in terms of resources as administrators must configure and manage them for each device separately. Therefore, it may be a more ideal option to be used in places with a small number of computer networks.
The disadvantages of these firewalls are that they are easily disabled by users. In addition, because they are constantly running in the background, they put a load on the network and cause network slowdown.
Additionally, not all devices within an intranet may be compatible with a single software firewall, and several different firewalls may be required. These firewalls help protect your electronic devices in public places.
Hardware Based Firewall
Hardware-based firewalls are physical devices, each with its own computing resources. Also called firewall device. They act as gateways between internal networks and the internet, keeping data packets and traffic requests from untrusted sources out of the private network. Hardware firewalls are systems that are operated by integrating into the router between a server and a network.
Physical firewalls may be suitable for organizations with many devices on the same network. While they block malicious traffic before it reaches any endpoint, they do not provide security against insider attacks. Therefore, a combination of software and hardware-based firewalls can provide optimum protection to businesses' network.
Packet Filters Firewall
Packet filtering firewalls are the oldest and most basic type of firewalls. Working at the network layer, they check the data packet against predefined rules for source IP and destination IP, protocol, source port, and destination port to determine whether the packet can be relayed. Packet filtering firewalls are essentially stateless and monitor each packet independently, without tracking the established connection or the packets that have previously passed through that connection. This makes these firewalls very limited in their ability to protect against advanced threats and attacks.
Packet filtering firewalls are fast, inexpensive, and effective. However, since these firewalls cannot inspect the contents of data packets, they cannot protect against malicious data packets coming from trusted source IPs.
Circuit Level Firewalls
Circuit-level gateways operating at the session layer verify established TCP connections and monitor active sessions. They are quite similar to packet filtering firewalls in that they perform a single check and use minimal resources. However, they function at a higher layer of the OSI model. First, they determine the security of an established connection. When an internal device initiates a connection with a remote host, circuit-level gateways establish a virtual connection on behalf of the internal device to keep the internal user's identity and IP address private.
Circuit-level gateways are cost-effective, simple, and hardly affect the performance of a network. However, their inability to control the contents of data packets makes them an incomplete security solution in and of themselves. A data packet containing malware can easily bypass a circuit-level gateway if it has a legitimate TCP handshake. Therefore, another type of firewall is often configured above circuit level gateways for additional protection.
Stateful Inspection Firewall
Stateful Inspection Firewalls operate at the network layer of the OSI model and can monitor both data headers and traffic content. They work by creating a state table with source IP, destination IP, source port, and destination port after a connection is established. Rather than relying on a fixed set of rules based on this information, they dynamically create their own rules to allow expected inbound network traffic. They do not allow the passage of data packets that do not belong to an authenticated active connection. The main difference between packet filters and stateful inspection firewalls is that not only packet headers are inspected, but also packets' status by proxy services.
Health check firewalls check legitimate connections and source and destination IPs to determine which data packets can pass through. While these extra controls provide enhanced security, they consume a lot of system resources and can slow traffic significantly. Therefore, they are prone to DDoS attacks.
Application Level (Gateway) Firewall
Application level firewalls are the most common firewalls. At the application layer level of the OSI model, it works in two forms, active and passive. They increase the overall security of the application infrastructure by preventing attacks that cause service disruption or structural damage to data sources.
Active application firewalls are active against known vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cookie modification and cross-site scripting, and check all incoming requests.
Passive application layer firewalls act similarly to IDS in examining all incoming requests for vulnerabilities, but if a potential attack is found, they cannot actively reject those requests.
Proxy Based Firewalls
This firewall architecture is built on the application layer. The most important feature of the proxy supported firewall is that it starts the session itself. In other words, when the source system wants to log in, it sends this request to the firewall, and the firewall forwards this request to the source. After logging in, the process continues the same. Proxy-backed firewalls act as isolation between the target and the source. This ensures network security.
The most important feature of these firewalls is that they can control the packet content. Since it performs security checks between the target and the source, its speed is slow and it causes performance losses. Therefore, it is not used in high-traffic networks. It is mostly used in places where data security is important, such as financial institutions and government offices.
How Firewall Works
Firewall operation logic is quite simple. All traffic in the "safe list" created by the network administrator is forwarded to the enterprises' own network without being subject to any obstacles. Traffic that is not in the safe list is blocked, preventing it from accessing the network, and you are informed.
Firewalls scan different data packets for harmful content such as malicious code that can be identified as known or established threats. If a data packet is flagged and considered a risk to the system, the firewall blocks the packet from entering the network and eventually reaching the computer and causing damage.
Which Firewalls Can We Prefer For Home Use?
Firewall solutions for home users should generally be simple and easy to use. Therefore, home users generally prefer desktop Firewall software as opposed to advanced firewalls used in commercial institutions. Firewalls developed for home use usually come with antiviruses and are presented with a user-friendly interface to make them easy to use.
Kaspersky Total Security: It is an antivirus software designed to fully protect users' digital devices (computers, smartphones, tablets, etc.). Firewall software also comes with antivirus program.
Windows Defender Firewall: It is a firewall that comes with the Windows operating system and meets the needs of users.
Norton 360 Deluxe: It is a package that includes comprehensive antivirus software as well as a powerful Firewall feature.
McAfee Total Protection: It offers a suite of antivirus, antispam, firewall, and privacy tools.
Avast Premium Security: It offers a suite of antivirus, antispam, firewall, and privacy tools.
Bitdefender Total Security: It is a package that includes powerful antivirus software and Firewall feature.
Apart from these, there are antivirus programs with firewall software such as ESET Internet Security, Trend Micro Maximum Security, F-Secure TOTAL, G DATA Total Security, BullGuard Premium Protection, Comodo Internet Security, Premium Zone Alarm Extreme Security.
These Firewall software are cost-effective and easy-to-use solutions for home users. However, each has different features and advantages. Therefore, it is important to choose a solution that suits the user's needs.
Why Is Firewall Necessary?
Firewall is a security measure used to secure a network or computer. Firewall is designed to prevent malicious people or software from harming your network or computer.
Legal Obligation: “Law on Regulating Broadcasts on the Internet and Combating Crimes Committed Through These Broadcasts” numbered 5651 states that it is mandatory to use firewall software. In this law, it is written that if you are the owner of a business and a crime has been committed on the internet using your network, you must use a firewall to prove that you are not the perpetrator of this crime and to protect yourself from cyber crimes.
Precaution Against Threats: In this period when viruses and cyber threats are increasing day by day, it must be used especially for businesses to protect their own assets and sensitive information.
E-Mail Security: Email, which is primarily used for companies to communicate, is a crucial opportunity that threat actors use to attack businesses. Therefore, it is possible to prevent malicious software that can come through e-mails with a firewall.
Site Access Restriction: It is possible to prevent businesses from accessing these pages by determining the sites that their personnel do not want to enter through the firewall. Inappropriate content can be blocked and used in line with the purpose of internet use.
Why should you use a firewall for your business?
Using Firewall for Business is one of the most basic ways to protect your data against various threats. Businesses should use a robust Firewall solution to protect their security and prevent unauthorized access to their networks. Reasons for businesses to use a Firewall can be:
Blocking malware: Firewall can protect your business from various cyber attacks by preventing malicious software from entering your network.
To prevent unauthorized access to the network: Firewall protects the security of your business data by preventing unauthorized access to your network.
Protecting your data: Firewall helps you protect your data by ensuring the security of sensitive data of your business.
Blocking inappropriate content: Firewall provides a safe and efficient working environment for your employees by blocking inappropriate content on your company's network.
Detecting security vulnerabilities: Firewall helps you make your network more secure by detecting security vulnerabilities in your business.
The use of Firewall in businesses is extremely important in terms of protecting business data and customer information. Firewall reduces the impact of malicious attacks by keeping the company's internet-connected computer systems secure. Firewall also plays an important role in data security by keeping track of which sites their employees visit.
For businesses, an important aspect of using Firewalls is compliance with government regulations. In some countries, businesses are required by law to keep a log of internet traffic and submit it to the government. These records may include which sites businesses visit and other information about internet traffic. Meeting these legal requirements is important for protecting businesses from possible sanctions.
As a result, it is important for businesses to log which sites their employees visit and comply with government regulations regarding the use of Firewall. In this way, businesses can be protected from malicious attacks by protecting their data and customer information. In addition, these records play an important role in meeting legal requirements. Firewall use is one of the most basic needs of businesses in terms of cyber security. All businesses should pay attention to the use of Firewall.
Importance of using firewall in public internet networks
Firewall usage is extremely important in public internet networks. Firewall is a tool used to protect the security of computer systems and networks in public internet networks. Because such networks are accessible to many people, they can become targets for hackers.
The use of firewalls is the first line of defense used to secure computer systems and networks in public internet networks. Firewall prevents malicious software from entering the network by controlling users, resources and applications that have access to computer systems.
Firewall can also detect and block attacks on public internet networks. It can also detect security vulnerabilities that may occur in the network by monitoring inbound and outbound traffic.
Therefore, it is extremely important to use Firewall in public internet networks. Using a firewall is the first line of defense for securing networks and computer systems and helps prevent the negative effects of cyber attacks and malware.
Why InfinitumIT for Cyber Security?
Firewall is of great importance for our cyber security, but of course, firewall alone is not enough for cyber security. There are many things that organizations need to do to ensure their cyber security.
Infinitum IT, offers leading solutions for cyber security of institutions. With the "Trusted Advisor" mentality, with its works carried out completely independent of the products; continues to offer the most accurate and realistic solutions for the needs and problems of its customers.
Some of them are as follows.
Infinitum IT Consulting Service: As Infinitum IT, we offer our customers solutions to increase the performance, security and sustainability of their systems by using the right configurations and security measures through consultancy services such as Network & System Health Scan, Incident Response and Incident Response, SIEM & Log Management and Security Operations Center.
CTH (Continuous Vulnerability Analysis) Service: It aims to continuously test the security of the systems and networks of the enterprises and to identify their vulnerabilities. This service measures whether systems and networks are up-to-date, vulnerabilities and risk levels, and provides businesses with the information and tools they need to respond in a timely manner.
Technology Security: As Infinitum IT, we offer solutions to our customers to ensure the security of the technologies they host in their companies or institutions. Thanks to our IoT Security service, we ensure the security of your computer, machine or in-house comfort equipment connected to the Internet.
Pentest service: Penetration Testis a security service that focuses on examining an enterprise's networks and systems from an attacker's point of view and identifying security vulnerabilities. This service is important for all kinds of institutions and organizations that care about their data. Penetration Testing aims to maximize the security of customers' data by helping to tighten systems.
Computer Forensics Service: Forensic Information service is a cyber security service that aims to use the data in the electronic environment as evidence in legal cases. Infinitum IT provides exceptional computer forensics and information security services to law firms, corporations and government agencies using the most powerful techniques available.
- Does it make sense to use a firewall at home?Using a Firewall at home is definitely a logical choice. Computers used in homes are often places where personal data and files containing sensitive information are stored. In addition, household devices may also face many security risks when surfing the Internet or using e-mail. Firewall controls the internet connection of computers and other devices used in the home. It helps prevent malware and cyber attacks. Using a Firewall at home is one of the most basic ways to protect yourself from cyber attacks and malware. It is also important to ensure that children are safe online. Some Firewall solutions offer features to help parents control their children's internet usage. As a result, using a Firewall at home is an important step to protect the security of devices and personal data in the home. Therefore, home users are advised to use a Firewall to secure their internet connection.
- Do antivirus programs have firewall features?Yes, many antivirus programs offer a number of additional security features, including a firewall. Such antivirus software is often marketed with terms such as "internet security" or "total security" and typically includes an antivirus program, a firewall, spam filter, malware protection, and additional protection against other online threats. However, not all of these features are available in an antivirus program, and each program may have different features and levels, so it's important to carefully examine what type of protection your chosen program offers.
- Does the modem have a firewall feature?Yes, many modems have firewall features. Most modems produced today have hardware and software-based firewall features. However, some modems may not have these features enabled by default or may be offered on a limited basis. The firewall in modems is generally simple, and it is recommended to use a more comprehensive firewall for network security. You can check the firewall settings by entering the modem interface. The firewall interface on the modems may vary depending on the brand and model. In general, however, the following headers can be found in a modem firewall interface:
Firewall Settings: The main section where firewall properties are set.
Parental Controls: This section allows parents to control their children's internet access.
NAT Forwarding: This section is used to properly route network traffic.IP and MAC Address Filtering: This section is used to filter out specific IP or MAC addresses.Port Forwarding: This section is used to route incoming connections to a specific device on the network.DMZ Settings: This section is used to isolate all connections of a device from other devices.Configuration Backup: This section is used to back up the configuration settings. - What should be considered when buying a firewall?Compliance with your requirements: It is important to choose a Firewall that fits the needs of your business or home. For example, a simple Firewall for a small business may be more appropriate than an advanced Firewall for a large corporate network. Accordingly, you should choose a Firewall according to your needs.Features: Firewall's features are also among the factors to be considered when choosing. Some Firewalls offer more advanced features, such as VPN support or content filtering features. It is important that you choose a Firewall with features that suit your needs.Performance: Firewall's performance is an important factor to consider when choosing. A powerful Firewall can quickly process data traffic on your network and provide protection from cyber attacks. You should choose a Firewall with good performance according to the density of your network.Providing update and support: Firewall updates and support are also important. Keeping your firewall up to date and having the support of the provider is important to maintaining the security of your network.Cost: Firewall prices may vary according to their features and performance. That's why it's important to choose a Firewall with features that suit your needs at an affordable cost.Ease of Use: Firewall's installation and configuration is also important for ease of use. By choosing an easy-to-use Firewall, you can spend less time and effort maintaining the security of your network. As a result, it is important to choose a product that suits your needs while purchasing a Firewall, and to pay attention to factors such as performance, features, updates and support, cost and ease of use.
- Why Is Firewall Necessary?Firewall, It is a security measure that increases security by controlling traffic to and from the network. The main task of the firewall is to prevent unwanted traffic by controlling the data traffic between the devices accessing the computer network. Therefore, firewall is an important component for protecting computer systems and networks. Some of the reasons for the necessity of firewall can be listed as follows:Blocks malware: Firewall protects your systems and data by preventing malicious software from entering your computer or network. In this way, damage caused by malicious software such as viruses, worms and trojan horses that infiltrate your computer or network is prevented.Provides network security: Firewall monitors all data traffic on your network, blocking requests from unsafe sources. In this way, it protects your network against hackers, spyware and other cyber attacks.Prevents information leaking: Firewall protects your data, sensitive information and personal information stored on your computer or network. Firewall prevents it from leaking out and thus provides protection against data theft.Ensures legal compliance: In some sectors, particularly those such as healthcare, finance and law, organizations are required to adhere to certain safety standards. Firewall fulfills the obligation to comply with these standards and ensures legal compliance.Improves network performance: Firewall improves network performance by regulating data traffic on your network. Because it blocks malicious traffic, other transactions on the network happen faster.Simplifies system administration: Firewall makes it easy for network administrators to perform tasks such as monitoring, reporting and managing network traffic. In this way, network administrators can work more effectively on network security.
- What is NGFW?NGFW (Next-Generation Firewall) or "Next Generation Firewall" is a more advanced security solution than a traditional firewall. NGFWs are designed to analyze traffic, detect and prevent threats, support application filtering, user authentication, virtual private network (VPN), and other advanced security features. NGFWs can monitor network traffic in greater detail, have more advanced threat detection and blocking, and support more applications and protocols. NGFWs are designed to overcome the shortcomings of traditional firewalls. While traditional firewalls can only decide by looking at the source, destination, and protocol of incoming traffic, NGFWs can also filter traffic by looking at the application layer. This allows NGFWs to perform a more detailed traffic analysis and more effectively blocks malicious traffic. NGFWs can also increase business efficiency by supporting a larger number of applications, allowing businesses to use different applications.
- What is IPS?IPS stands for "Intrusion Prevention System". It is a preventive system against intrusion attempts in computer networks. IPS constantly monitors all incoming traffic to the network and detects anomalies in these traffic and takes action against them. IPS plays an important role in network security. It detects infiltration attempts and takes precautions against malicious users or software trying to gain access to the network. In addition, it detects security vulnerabilities in the network, closes these vulnerabilities and helps the network become more secure. IPS also helps to optimize the traffic available on the network. By detecting anomalies in traffic, it improves network performance and helps solve network problems.
- What is UTP?UTP is an abbreviation of the words "Unshielded Twisted Pair" and its Turkish equivalent is "Unshielded Twisted Pair". UTP is one of the most common types of Ethernet cables and is used for data transmission. These cables contain wires helically twisted around each other. These wires are double-wrapped to protect them from electromagnetic interference. UTP cables are widely used due to their low cost and easy installation.
- How to Turn On Windows Firewall?
- Open the start menu.
- Type "Windows Firewall" in the search box and press Enter.
- The "Windows Firewall" window will open.
- In the menu on the left, you can choose between "Block Incoming Connections" or "Block Outbound Connections".
- Depending on the option you choose, you can turn on the firewall by clicking the "Change Settings" or "Enable" buttons.
- What are firewall brands?Some popular firewall brands are: Fortinet, Cisco, Check Point, Palo Alto Networks, SonicWall, Juniper Networks, Barracuda, Networks, Sophos, WatchGuard, McAfee, Norton, Kaspersky, Avast, Bitdefender and developed by Berqnet, a security software company based in Turkey. Berqnet Firewall. Berqnet Firewall takes control of every device connected to the network to increase security and monitors the activities of every user who has access to the network. It also offers advanced filtering features to protect against cyber attacks. These features include URL filtering, content filtering, antivirus, antispam, and IDS/IPS.