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Firewall & IDS IPS
A firewall is a security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.
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Packet-filtering firewalls: Basic levels of protection that filter packets based on IP addresses, protocols, or port numbers.
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Stateful inspection firewalls: Monitor the state of active connections, providing more informed filtering decisions.
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Proxy firewalls: Operate at the application layer, intercepting and inspecting traffic based on applications or functions.
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Next-generation firewalls (NGW): Integrate advanced security technologies like intrusion prevention systems (IPS) and application control for enhanced protection.
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Web application firewalls (WAFS): Specialize in protecting web applications from specific threats like SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
Firewall configuration involves setting up rules to allow or block specific types of traffic. Accessing firewall settings, creating new rules, configuring them, saving, applying, and testing the rules to ensure they work as intended.
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Perimeter firewall: Located at the network edge, they control traffic entering and leaving the network.
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Internal Firewalls: Protect specific segments within the network, adding an extra layer of security.
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Personal Firewalls: Installed on individual devices such as laptops or smartphones to monitor and control incoming and outgoing traffic.
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Cloud Firewalls: Safeguard cloud-based resources, providing scalable and distributed protection.
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Hardware firewalls: Physical devices offering robust protection but can be expensive and complex to set up.
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Software firewalls: Installed on computers or servers, providing more granular control but may consume system resources.
IPS systems complement firewalls by actively monitoring and responding to suspicious network activity, preventing intrusions using methods like signature-based detection, anomaly-based detection, and policy-based detection.
Explanation: Think of this like having a "most wanted" list for cyber threats.
How it works: The system looks for known patterns or signatures of threats that are already on the list.
Pros: Effective against known threats that have identifiable patterns.
Cons: Can miss new or modified threats that don't match the known signatures.
Explanation: This is like teaching a system what "normal" behavior looks like, so it can spot anything unusual or abnormal.
How it works: The system learns what is regular on the network or devices.
Pros: Can detect new or unknown threats by looking for deviations from normal behavior.
Cons: May generate false positives if legitimate activity is slightly different from the learned normal behavior.
Explanation: You set the rules (policies) for what is allowed and what is not allowed on your network.
How it works: The system enforces these rules and takes actions based on them.
Pros: Gives you direct control over what should be allowed and what should be blocked.
Cons: Needs constant updating and management to stay effective as threats evolve.
Firewalls and virtual private networks (VPNs) work together to secure network traffic. Firewalls control access based on rules, while VPNs encrypt data for secure transmission, making them a powerful combination in network security.
Cloud-based firewalls integrated with AI and machine learning for smarter protection, and collaboration with other security measures like intrusion detection systems (IDS) signify the evolving landscape of firewalls, ensuring stronger network security in the face of emerging cyber threats.
Imagine your network as a house party and an IDS is like a security guard hired to keep an eye on everything. The guard's job is to alert you if they see any troublemakers or uninvited guests sneaking in.
Technically, an IDS is software or a device that monitors network or system activities. It looks for malicious behavior or violations of network policies. When it detects something fishy, like a hacker trying to break in or unauthorized access attempts, it sends you an alert so you can investigate further.
The beauty of an IDS is that it's like having a security camera that never blinks, ensuring nothing slips past unnoticed. However, it's important to note that an IDS doesn't take direct action; it's there to detect and alert you, leaving the response up to you.
Now, let's leap upon intrusion prevention systems, which are like a superhero version of an IDS. They not only detect intrusions but also take action to stop them in their tracks, pictured as guard dogs that not only bark to alert you of an intruder but also chase them away.
Similar to an IDS, it monitors network traffic. However, when it stops potentially malicious activity, it can immediately block or prevent that activity. For example, it might terminate a network connection, block traffic from a suspicious source IP address, or notify network administrators.
An IPS is like a bouncer at a club; it keeps an eye on the crowd (network traffic) and has the power to kick troublemakers out (malicious activity).
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IDS monitors and alerts about suspicious activity but doesn't prevent it.
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IPS actively blocks or mitigates threats once detected.
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IDS has a lower impact on network speed compared to IPS, which can be higher due to deeper inspection.
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IDS can be placed anywhere in the network, often behind the firewalls, while IPS is typically placed inline before the firewall.
This understanding of these aspects of firewalls equips you with the knowledge to protect your network effectively and adapt to evolving cybersecurity challenges.