What Is A Firewall, And Does My Office Need One?

As a Managed Service Provider (MSP), we have seen several IT environments. One of the services that we provide is an IT Environment Audit, where we come in and review an IT environment to see if it meets compliance standards. An immediate red flag for us is when we go into an environment and see that there is no existing firewall. When we bring this up to management, we are often confused about the differences between firewall and antivirus software. Antivirus software works to detect and remove viruses and threats from a device. A firewall is a network security device that allows or prevents incoming and outgoing traffic based on a set of rules.

They are both separate components to the layers of security often recommended for workplaces, especially those that handle sensitive information and may have to meet rigorous compliance standards.

Firewalls can be either a physical piece of hardware or software. A hardware firewall will typically be installed between your network and your modem. Firewalls that are included with modems are generally not sophisticated enough for businesses that have more than a few users. Hardware firewalls will usually require installation and configuration from someone with the appropriate expertise (shameless plug, we can do that for businesses of all sizes). Our favorite firewall is the Meraki from Cisco.

What does it do?

Quite simply firewall acts as the gatekeeper for your network. It allows – or prevents – connections and activity based on your set rules. Depending on the firewall device that you use, the levels of granularity for control can get extremely specific. You can prevent or enable access for users that work in different departments – so the CEO can have access to a website, but the folks in sales do not.

Firewalls can also be configured to allow computers outside your network to safely connect to the server(s) inside your network, which is helpful for employees working remotely.

It’s worth noting that firewalls that are misconfigured may not work and can potentially compromise your network functionality. It’s essential to consult an IT professional before picking a firewall and, afterward, to ensure that the firewall is constantly monitored and regularly updated to keep up with the ever-changing threat landscape.

While “layers of security” may sound and feel excessive, having been called in to remediate compromised environments, firewalls, and antivirus is the protection many offices don’t realize that they need until it’s too late.

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