An Introduction to Firewalls

Firewalls are an integral part of any secure network; it is your first line of defence against malware and attackers. A firewall can be likened to a security guard stationed at the entrance of a building. Just as a security guard regulates who enters and exits the premises, a firewall controls the flow of network traffic in and out of your digital environment.

Imagine an office building with multiple entrances and a reception area. The security guard stationed at the entrance verifies the identity of individuals, checks their credentials, and ensures they have the necessary authorisation to enter. Similarly, a firewall examines incoming and outgoing network packets, inspecting their source, destination, and other attributes to determine if they comply with predefined security rules.

Why Does Your Business Need a Firewall?

1. A Firewall Protects Your Company from Hackers

The most common way in which hackers compromise business systems and data is through social engineering attacks. They employ a variety of tricks to trap unsuspecting employees into giving them privileged information and sensitive data.

While high-quality cybersecurity training is the most effective way to nip this problem in the bud, firewalls do help to a large extent as well.

Firewalls can alert you to malicious incoming traffic and can also block attacks.

You can buy a standalone firewall or a combination of hardware and software that does both functions. However, it is recommended that you purchase a firewall that comes with Gateway Antivirus protection.

2. A Firewall Lets You Block Access to Unapproved Websites

Firewalls block unauthorised users from accessing your network. But you can also block certain websites from being accessed by your users. This is useful if you want to prevent your employees from browsing inappropriate websites or those that may have malicious downloads while working on your network.

3. A Firewall Can Protect Your Business from Malicious Code

Firewalls are used to protect computers from viruses and other malicious software. They monitor incoming and outgoing data and log any unusual activities. They may be configured to alert you when an attack occurs or when someone tries to gain unauthorised access to your computer system. These alerts can go a long way in enhancing the overall cybersecurity posture of your business.

4. A Firewall Lets You Limit Bandwidth Usage for Certain Programs

Firewalls can be used to control network bandwidth. A firewall can limit the amount of bandwidth available for certain types of data. This could be done by limiting the amount of bandwidth available to streaming video or other media files whilst ring-fencing bandwidth for your key business systems such as your hosted telephony solution or cloud-based solutions.

5. You Can Use a Firewall to Provide VPN Services

A virtual private network (VPN) uses encryption technology to secure communications between two parties. The encrypted traffic travels across public networks like the Internet without anyone else knowing about it.

A firewall can provide VPN services. For instance, you can configure your firewall so that only specific computers have access to the Internet. Then, you can create a tunnel that allows these computers to communicate securely over the Internet.

A firewall can also be used to encrypt data sent between your business computers and your remote office. It can also act as a gateway to connect your organisation’s local area network (LAN) to a wide area network (WAN).

General Networking and Traffic Management

Firewalls play a crucial role in managing and controlling network traffic beyond their primary function of ensuring security. They act as the central point for internet distribution within a network, overseeing the flow of data between internal systems and the wider business environment. By strategically placing business-grade firewalls at key network junctions, you can effectively control and direct the movement of data packets, optimising network performance and ensuring efficient connectivity. Moreover, firewalls can be configured to prioritise specific types of traffic, allowing critical applications and services to operate smoothly while managing bandwidth allocation effectively.

Next Steps

Due to the importance and nature of the Firewall’s ‘role’ within a business network, Epoq IT deliver an enhanced security solutions and proactive support, alerting and monitoring with our Managed Firewall Solution. To hear more about what this solution can do for your business, please reach out via the contact details provided. Contact details are at the bottom of this blog.

Contact Details

Rachael Smith (Sales Manager)
Phone: 01494 976939
Email: rachael.smith@epoq-it.co.uk

Christopher Wren (Business Development Executive)
Phone: 07721 383003
Email: christopher.wren@epoq-it.co.uk