| The Importance of Firewalls to Network Security | | | | accessing your network. It is called a firewall because |
| Most networks should have a firewall in place before | | | | it prevent information or data loss from one place to |
| they are up and running. A firewall is the most | | | | another. Typically a firewall is some program or |
| common form of network security employed by | | | | hardware that you have to install in your computer that |
| companies large and small. If you own a personal | | | | helps filter information coming from the Web to your |
| computer your anti-virus software company may at | | | | computer network. A firewall provides a series of |
| one time or another have offered you firewall | | | | filters that screens information allowing only safe |
| protection. | | | | information to pass through to your network. |
| A firewall on a home network is just as important as | | | | In a large company, multiple computers are often linked |
| one on a corporate network. Why? Most smaller | | | | using network cards. Companies usually provide |
| networks have as many security issues that larger | | | | multiple connections to the Internet. In order to protect |
| corporate networks have. A firewall helps protect a | | | | all of these computers a firewall is necessary so that |
| network against potential data loss, corruption and | | | | only certain people can access corporate computers |
| hackers. | | | | through the Web (those that are authorized to do so). |
| What Is A Firewall | | | | While a firewall is not foolproof it basically does a good |
| A firewall is nothing more than a fancy term used to | | | | job of protecting computers from Internet threats at |
| describe a blockade that prevents outside forces from | | | | their connection points. |