What is a Firewall and Why Do You Need a Firewall?

Generally, a firewall is a cybersecurity tool installed between your business and the public Internet. It is a barrier between your network, systems and server and any unwanted traffic. The firewall monitors all incoming and outgoing traffic. Protecting you by separating out unwanted traffic and inspecting packets of information. 

Firewalls manage security threats and mitigate risks. They help secure your data. Making sure you are complying with regulatory policies, while also increasing productivity. Firewalls range from software, hardware or are cloud-based. Every type of firewall has its own security strengths. 

Are there different types of Firewalls?

There are many types of Firewalls. Increasingly, cyber attacks are becoming more frequent and sophisticated. They also vary in the type of cyber attack. That’s why there are different types of firewalls. 

• Shared Firewalls – Shared Firewalls have multiple clients on a dedicated firewall appliance. They provide protection from unwanted traffic. Shared Firewalls are available on demand and are set up redundantly. With a Shared Firewall service, basic rules are in place to mitigate risks and act as a filter between your environment and the Internet. 

• Dedicated Firewalls – a Dedicated Firewall, sometimes called a hardware firewall, is a single client network device protecting all servers on a public VLAN. It’s a step up from Shared Firewalls. It also helps safeguard your equipment. Using basic rule/port blocking with the bonus of added VPN functionality. Specific compliance requirements may mean your business must use a Dedicated Firewall (Managed Dedicated Firewalls). Plus, our Dedicated Firewalls give you more flexibility and customization options. With Clarity’s Dedicated Firewalls, we customize it for your defined security rules and policies.

• Next Generation Firewall (NGFW) – Next Generation Firewalls (NGFW) take firewall security to the next level. NGFWs are more advanced than traditional firewalls. They combined the strengths of traditional firewalls and application firewalls. They filter and inspect packets based on applications and distinguish between safe applications and threats. NGFWs go deeper in their inspections, examining packet payloads and matching signatures for malware and other cyber attacks. 

• Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) – Since a majority of cyber attacks target web applications, they need specialize protection. Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) surround your web applications with a protective barrier. 

Benefits of Clarity’s Custom Firewall Solutions include:

How do I know which Firewalls work best for my business?

Your Firewalls need to fit your security needs. While also meeting your industry’s regulatory compliance standards. Clarity’s cybersecurity experts take the guesswork out of figuring out which Firewalls fit your specific business needs. Our cybersecurity team security assessments include assessing your Firewalls.

Throughout Clarity’s Firewall assessment, Clarity’s security experts consult with you and your IT team to develop a strong cybersecurity strategy. Then, Clarity provides you with both affordable and scalable custom firewall technology solutions.