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Quick
Study: Firewalls
As more and more businesses
join the virtual community, the question of information security becomes
increasingly important. The reason for this is simply that without proper
safety precautions, valuable, and sometimes confidential data, held on company
PCs and servers is vulnerable to intruders. However, these 'hackers' can be
kept at bay by using firewalls.
What is a firewall?
As the Name implies, firewalls
are an electronic barrier designed to exclude unauthorised access to private
networks. They come in various forms and different degrees of sophistication,
depending on the size of the organisation and the nature of the information
stored.
Is data theft a big problem?
Yes, it is. A recent survey
conducted by MORI and Iomega suggests that UK small businesses risk losing
£69 billion each year by not keeping their data safe. And, with the rise
of Internet access, it is more important than ever before to keep your
information safe from prying eyes, as there are thousands of malcontents out
there determined to hack into your company site just for the hell of it.
Any other threats?
The number of malicious viruses
in circulation continues to multiply, and every business is vulnerable to them
unless they have suitable protection. Viruses usually enter systems via
attachments to unsolicited email - typically spam or 'joke' mail - that unwary
employees load onto their PCs. Firewalls can stop any such attachments getting
near to users' desktops.
Do I have to spend thousands
to protect my company?
No, the cheapest firewall
systems can be purchased off the shelf for under £1000, and can be set up
relatively quickly. Although the total cost will depend on the size of your
network and the level of sophistication you require.
Okay, so I install a
firewall - is that all I have to do?
No, hackers are, on the whole,
very clever people, and a firewall that is not properly maintained is about as
much good as not having on at all. Your best bet is to research what you need
properly, and to talk to a network security expert before you invest.
Are there any downsides to
all this?
Just as security precautions at
airports make life more inconvenient for innocent travellers, firewalls can
make authorised access to your networks a cumbersome process - but this is a
small price to pay for peace of mind.
Is it just about security?
Not really, because a firewall
can work just as well in the opposite direction. For example, you can stop
employees visiting certain Web sites or sending emails to known competitors.
You could even prevent them accessing the Net altogether if you really wanted
to.
How a Firewall works
- In the middle of the two networks sits a router.
- An access control list is placed on te router which has a
list of IP addresses that can be allowed on to the network.
- When you try to access the network, the router
automatically checks the list.
- If your IP address is one of the those on the list,
you're allowed in. If not, you sit outside.
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