Configuring firewalls can be a nightmare. Can plug-and-play appliances really be the answer, or are they plug-and-pray?
RMIT IT Test Labs put firewall appliances through the wringer and found that protecting your network can sometimes be far from simple.
You know the upside of being connected to the Internet: you have access to a wealth of information from around the world on just about any subject imaginable. But, of course, for every upside there is a downside.
And in this case, it's the fact that connecting your LAN or computer to the Internet also makes it possible for everyone else who's connected to access your valuable data. How do you protect yourself? With a firewall.
Just like the firewall of a building that prevents flames from spreading from building to building, a network firewall stops unwanted network traffic from spreading from the Internet to your network and vice versa. The unwanted traffic is usually someone outside your network attempting to access your resources.
You can also use firewalls to prevent your users from going places on the Internet that they shouldn't. The firewall places a barrier between your network and the Internet. You can then manage the barrier to make sure that your network is safe. While it's not 100 percent foolproof, you need to have a firewall on your LAN for security if you plan to connect to the Internet.
The December issue of ZDNet Australia's Technology & Business Magazine contains reviews of firewall products, including Editor's Choice Awards for the best products. For subscription information, visit Technology & Business.
