Firewall

A firewall is a software or hardware component that is used to protect a network or computer from unauthorized access. A firewall monitors data traffic between an internal network and the internet and blocks unwanted traffic such as malware or external attacks.

There are different types of firewalls that offer different protection options. A stateful inspection firewall analyzes data traffic on the basis of logs and saves the status of a connection in order to check incoming traffic for admissibility. An application firewall, on the other hand, is able to analyze application protocols and apply special rules based on application characteristics. A hardware firewall consists of a physical component that works as an independent router and therefore offers a higher level of protection than a purely software solution.

Firewalls are an essential part of the IT security infrastructure and are used in companies, but also in the private sector, to protect networks and computers from external attacks.