Firewall Software Evaluation Center

What Is Firewall Software?

Firewall Software Business Drivers and Benefits

• allowing secure data transfer from multiple devices and locations on different types of networks
• ensuring the safety of valuable IT assets through the use of different security protocols including data encryption, symmetric-key algorithms, and other methods
• providing a secure connection between terminals or remote offices using an intranet, an extranet, or the Internet
• supporting business rules or network security rules that identify incoming potential threats and prevent them from entering the enterprise network
• aiding in compliance with the US Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), and other regulations such as payment card industry security standards
• automatically analyzing potential new threats to security and notifying system administrators about those threats

Firewall Risks

• Unauthorized users, both internal and external, can access private networks through password theft and corrupt confidential information.
• Without intrusion protection, external threats cannot be detected and blocked.
• Without firewall rule sets and protocols with specific criteria for blocking traffic ("default-deny" rather than "default-allow"), unauthorized traffic can enter the network.

Why Use the Firewall Evaluation Center?

• Compare firewall applications to see which ones offer the functionality critical to protecting your IT infrastructure.
• Make sure your shortlisted vendors offer not only intrusion detection, but also blocking, encryption, and authentication capabilities that are a good fit for your network requirements.
• Shortlist the firewall vendors that allow you to establish business rules specific to your needs.