Networking and Security: Firewalls - Essay Example

Networking and Security: Firewalls Security is the core issue of all present and future networks. Firewalls play a vital role in achieving a high scale security. Fundamentally, they are classified as software and hardware firewalls. Firewalls filter inbound or outbound traffic by either allowing or denying it. More often than not a software firewall can manage the major security issues of a home user. Because traffic is limited software firewall can perform well with a computer of good specifications; however in a medium size organization or an enterprise these dimensions are quite different and require specialized hardware firewall.

High volumes of data per second can choke the network if the firewall hardware requirements are not rationally analyzed. A Check Point ® software firewall and two hardware firewalls Astaro ® and Fortigate ® are analyzed for enterprise networks security requirements.A software firewall is specific to Operating System and user requirements. Microsoft and some other Operating Systems provide a built-in firewall, however third-party software firewall solutions are also available to support various user requirements.

Check Point has introduced several models with few client and business specific differences. These are OS Specific firewalls and can only support software mentioned by the each model, most of these supports Nortel Versions: 7.x, 8.x, 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, 12.x, 13, 14 and Cisco OS Versions: 9.x, 10.x, 11.x, 12.x. Various software firewall prices may range from $1,500 – 22,000. (Checkpoint, “Software Container”)A more scientific and analytical approach is required to make decisions for firewall in Enterprise networks.

Enterprises require a full scale firewall security solution because neither the connectivity nor the security can be compromised and the firewall is required to support features like real-time logs and high availability. Astaro ® and Fortigate ® are being used in many enterprises and provide full scale security to networks and applications. These firewalls can ensure network security in complex and dynamic network environment. Role and capabilities of hardware firewalls in an enterprise pays its cost back efficiently, however the product cost may vary depending upon the training, licensing and number of users supported.

Therefore the selection of firewall depends on domain specific requirements and expense varies accordingly for these solutions. Hardware firewalls usually support more than one operating system if not all of them. Firewall licenses are usually subscribed on yearly basis for a specific number of users and gateways.Works Cited Web PublicationsCheck Point. “Firewall-Container”. Checkpoint.com, 2010. Web. 17 November, 2010. Astaro. “Solutions”. Astaro.com, 2010. Web. 17 November, 2010.

Firewalls. “Firewall Types”. Focus.com, 2010. Web. 17 November, 2010.