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Tag: Firewall Security

How To Configure A Firewall To Secure Your Business Server?

A firewall acts as the first line of defense against network intruders. It works by filtering packets of incoming and outgoing data based on preset security rules. These rules are also termed as firewall configurations. The efficiency of its configuration governs the efficiency of a firewall. The configuration rules should be set to be strict enough to block malicious traffic but lenient enough to allow unobstructed data flow essential to run the website operations.

Follow these steps to ensure effective firewall configuration to secure your business server:

Secure The Firewall: The first step is to secure the firewall to prevent hackers from gaining administrative access. It is important to refrain from using a firewall that is not secured, as it can do more damage by acting as an entry point for hackers. Simple ways to secure your firewall are –

  • Regularly update the firewall to the latest versions released by the developer.
  • Delete default user accounts set by the developer and change default passwords using password reset best practices.
  • Create different accounts for users who will manage the firewall and allow permissions based on their responsibilities instead of creating shared accounts.
  • Pre-define trusted subnets from within the organizational network and allow changes from these subnets only. This helps in reducing the attack surface.

Define Firewall Zones & IP Addresses: In order to define firewall zones, first identify the assets that need to be protected and group them based on the sensitivity or risk level. Place grouped assets together in network zones. For example, group together all servers that provide services over the internet, such as VPN servers, email servers, etc., in one network zone that allows limited inbound traffic from internet. This is usually known as DMZ or a demilitarized zone. Create as many zones as logically possible. Now establish IP address scheme that compliments the zone architecture of your network. Use this as the basis to create firewall zones.

Configure ACLs: ACLs refer to access control lists. They are the defining rules of the traffic that will be permitted to every interface and sub-interface of the firewall. An ACL should include well-defined specifications such as source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and deny all button to block all unapproved traffic. Make sure to apply both inbound and outbound ACLs to every interface and sub-interface. Also, refrain from granting public access to firewall administration interfaces to prevent outside threats.

Configure Other Services: Check if the firewall you are deploying has add-on capabilities to act as DHCP server, NTP server, or Intrusion Prevention Server. In such case, make sure to configure these services. Additionally, configure the firewall to report to your logging server.

Test The Configuration: Run vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to make sure the firewall is blocking traffic as per ACLs. Create a backup of the firewall configuration for future reference. Make sure to run regular tests to ensure the efficiency of the firewall.

To know more about protecting your business network from cyberattcks, contact Centex Technologies. You can contact Centex Technologies at Killeen (254) 213 – 4740, Dallas (972) 375 – 9654, Atlanta (404) 994 – 5074, and Austin (512) 956 – 5454.

 

Need For Firewall Protection

January 20, 2012

It is very important to have proper security elements in place for your computer system irrespective of whether you use it for business or personal purposes. The main elements that can help safeguard your computer from dangerous virus attacks generally include anti-virus software and an appropriate firewall that helps keep unwarranted and illegal access at bay. There are all kinds of hackers working round the clock to gain access to information and data stored on various venerable systems and a single breach can prove to be quite harmful especially if you store confidential client information and business plans and policies on your systems.

Most of the Windows based systems these days come equipped with a firewall. In order to check whether the firewall in your system is functioning, you can follow a few simple steps and open the Local Area Network button in the Control Panel. The settings displayed by clicking on this button can allow you to turn on or turn off your firewall. For those who wish to go in for specified firewall protection on account of secret data stored on their systems, it is best to opt for advanced firewall protection by purchasing suitable software for the same.

There are mainly two kinds of identifiable firewalls that are used by corporate companies. These include a hardware based firewall and software based one. In the case of the former, the firewall is embedded into the hardware of the system and it does not use the energy or resources of your system in order to run. Thus, there is no requirement of extra memory or disk space for such a firewall. However, a software firewall, although running on the system’s resources is believed to be more potent as it is highly sophisticated and can ward off even the most complex attacks on your system. If you wish to go in for a software based firewall, you need to make sure that you have enough memory in place so as to enable your system to function smoothly and eliminate the risk of a system crash. Firewalls generally help keep away hackers by closing the internet ports that they may attempt to access.

We at Centex Technologies provide complete IT security and networking solutions for our clients. We also provide SEO and Web Development services. For more information, please contact us at our Killeen (254-213-4740) or Dallas (972-851-7878) Office.

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