Insider threats (e.g., someone within the network intentionally changing firewall settings).
Social engineering attacks (e.g., someone stealing a password and trying to commit CEO fraud).
These systems ensure both incoming and outgoing traffic is safe, but they are vulnerable to:
Set up traffic scanning on a single device (e.g., a firewall that protects a BYOD laptop from incoming traffic).įirewalls are one of the bases of network security in the client-server model.
Build "walls" around internal subnetworks (e.g., a firewall that prevents HR personnel from accessing a system reserved for the DevOps team).
Keep networks safe from external traffic sources (i.e., the Internet).
The scope of a firewall's protection varies between use cases. The main purpose of a firewall is to act as a barrier that allows non-threatening traffic in and keeps dangerous traffic out. A firewall is a security device or program that monitors network traffic and detects potential threats.