What is a Firewall? Explore Its Features, Types, How It Works, and Usage

What is a firewall? For anyone who has worked on a computer, this term is certainly not unfamiliar. Firewalls have become the number one data protection tool trusted by many users. Today’s article provides comprehensive information about Firewalls and how to use them effectively. Join FPT Shop to find out!

What is the concept of a firewall?

Firewalls operate as software or hardware with the task of protecting computer networks from threats from the internet. Firewalls perform this task by monitoring and controlling network traffic to and from your network. Customizable firewall types can block or allow traffic activity based on pre-established rules.

Firewalls can operate at the basic, network, or even cloud computing level. They play a critical role in preventing cyberattacks, viruses, malware, and other threats to network systems. Additionally, Firewalls can also track and report on suspicious network activities to enhance cybersecurity.

What are the functions of a firewall?

After learning about what a firewall is, we need to understand its application and functions. The tasks below show that firewalls play a crucial role in protecting network systems and ensuring their security and stability.

• Preventing unauthorized access: Firewalls control access to the network by managing network traffic, denying or allowing access based on pre-established rules.
• Protecting the network from attacks: Firewalls block cyberattacks such as denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, exploit attacks, and other attacks from outside the network.
• Detecting and blocking malware: Firewalls can detect and block malware intrusion such as viruses, spyware, rootkits, and trojans.
• Monitoring and logging: Firewalls can track network activities and record detailed information about network traffic and important events for analysis and assessment of cybersecurity status.
• Creating a secure network environment: Firewalls contribute to creating a secure network environment by establishing security rules, controlling access, and protecting critical data from theft.

Evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of firewalls

Advantages

What are the advantages of firewalls? We can see this through characteristics such as the following:

• The primary purpose of firewalls is to protect networks and data from external threats.
• Firewalls directly control access to the network and devices on the network, preventing unwanted access and ensuring network security.
• The operation of firewalls can prevent network overload by controlling network traffic, ensuring network performance.
• Firewalls allow for the adjustment of access rights to network resources, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access critical information.
• Firewall applications enhance the security of network applications and services by preventing cyberattacks, protecting critical data.
• Firewalls can monitor and report potential network incidents, giving administrators a comprehensive view of the cybersecurity landscape.

Disadvantages

Besides the outstanding advantages, we need to understand some of the disadvantages of firewalls as follows:

• Vulnerable to advanced attack techniques or malware: Although firewalls can block common cyber threats, they can still be bypassed by advanced attack techniques or sophisticated malware.
• Risk of hardware or software failure: During operation, firewalls may experience hardware or software failures, leading to data loss on the device and disruption of network operations.
• Slowing down network traffic: Since firewalls must scan and analyze each data packet that passes through them, they can slow down network traffic and affect performance.
• Deployment, configuration, and maintenance costs: The deployment, configuration, and maintenance of firewalls require significant financial and personnel investment, increasing organizational costs.

Common types of firewalls

In addition to the question of what is a firewall, many people are also interested in how firewalls are classified. Here are some common types of firewalls that you can find:

Personal Firewalls

Personal firewalls are installed on personal devices such as computers and mobile phones to protect them from external cyber threats. They are specialized cybersecurity software that serves the personal protection needs of users.

The main features of Personal firewalls include the ability to control and block traffic from network sources to personal devices, protecting and preventing remote cyberattacks. They also provide the ability to monitor and report on network activities on the device, giving users an overview of their cybersecurity status.

Illustrative example

A familiar Personal firewall is Windows Firewall on the Windows operating system. This is a firewall software that is built into the Windows operating system, providing network control and protection for personal computers using Windows. Windows Firewall allows users to set rules to control network access and block potential cyber threats.

Network Firewalls

Network Firewalls are used to protect computer networks or network systems from external cyber threats. They can exist as hardware or software structures and are placed at network access points to control and filter network traffic.

The features of Network Firewalls include the ability to manage and control network traffic entering and leaving the network, blocking remote cyber threats, and creating cybersecurity rules to protect the system. Additionally, they can also log and report on network activities so that organizations can assess their cybersecurity status.

Illustrative example

A typical example of Network Firewalls is the Palo Alto Networks Firewall. This firewall device provides network security features such as application control, content analysis, and comprehensive security management for enterprise network systems. This device effectively blocks external cyber threats and protects the organization’s network resources.

Operating principles of a firewall

• Recording and inspecting packets: Firewalls record all network packets that pass through them and inspect them based on multiple factors such as source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, network protocols, and content.
• Determining a decision: Based on rules and configuration, the firewall decides whether the packet should be accepted, denied, or redirected to another processing procedure.
• Filtering attacks: Fire