Stateful multilayer inspection (SMLI) firewalls

Proxy firewalls filter network traffic at the application level. Unlike basic firewalls, the proxy acts an intermediary between two end systems. The client must send a request to the firewall, where it is then evaluated against a set of security rules and then permitted or blocked. Most notably, proxy firewalls monitor traffic for layer 7 protocols such as HTTP and FTP, and use both stateful and deep packet inspection to detect malicious traffic.

Network address translation (NAT) firewalls allow multiple devices with independent network addresses to connect to the internet using a single IP address, keeping individual IP addresses hidden. As a result, attackers scanning a network for IP addresses can't capture specific details, providing greater security against attacks. NAT firewalls are similar to proxy firewalls in that they act as an intermediary between a group of computers and outside traffic.

Stateful multilayer inspection (SMLI) firewalls filter packets at the network, transport, and application layers, comparing them against known trusted packets. Like NGFW firewalls, SMLI also examine the entire packet and only allow them to pass if they pass each layer individually. These firewalls examine packets to determine the state of the communication (thus the name) to ensure all initiated communication is only taking place with trusted sources.
Read More : What is a network firewall and how does it work

MANAGED IT SERVICES

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Firewall rule administration

Firewalls, and more specifically, firewall rules, are the backbone of a robust network security infrastructure. However, firewall rules can be difficult to manage. Security administrators are often so busy with multiple change requests that they neither have the time nor resources to investigate all the implications of a change and implement changes manually. In an enterprise network, there are often multiple firewalls, and most organizations have moved or are moving to the cloud, adding more complexity and increasing challenges for admins.

Automation plays a key role in managing any rule-based firewall effectively. Enterprise networks need a firewall policy management tool that not only provides visibility into the entire firewall rule set, but also helps understand the repercussions of changes and can push these changes to the respective firewall device.

Manage rules efficiently with Firewall Analyzer
Firewall Analyzer is an intelligent firewall rule management tool that enables network security administrators to automate firewall rule administration. Admins can use this tool to automate the following time-consuming tasks:

Read More what is a network firewall and how does it work

Managed Firewall variants

Our managed firewall solutions make use of different technologies to meet requirements and balance performance against cost.

Dedicated Firewall: Our Next-Generation Firewall service on physical infrastructure dedicated to a single customer
Virtual Firewall: A cost-effective managed firewall delivering the benefits of security in a more cost-effective manner. Virtualization of the firewall enables fast provisioning, unlimited scalability and eliminates your need to maintain a physical network firewall

On the basis of geography, the managed firewall services market can be segmented into North America, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (MEA), South America, and Europe. The Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing market for managed firewall services during the forecast period. With rapid technological growth, threats from cybercriminals have increased in the Asia Pacific, which is expected to drive the managed firewall services market in the region during the forecast period.

Key players in the managed firewall services market include Cisco Systems, Inc., Symantec Corporation, IBM Corporation, Mindtree Ltd., CenturyLink, Inc., Redcentric plc, Claranet limited, BC Networks, Inc., T-systems International GmbH., Interoute Communications Limited, Colt Technology Services Group Limited, SecureWorks, Inc. (Dell), Verizon Enterprise Solutions, SecureData, and SonicWall Inc.

The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.

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How application layer and proxy firewalls work

An application firewall may also be referred to as a proxy-based or reverse-proxy firewall. They provide application-layer filtering and can examine the payload of a packet and distinguish among valid requests, data and malicious code disguised as a valid request or data.

Since this type makes a decision based on the payload's content, it gives security engineers more granular control over network traffic and sets rules to permit or deny specific application requests or commands. For example, it can allow or deny a specific incoming Telnet command from a particular user, whereas other types can only control general incoming requests from a particular host.

If this type of firewall can also prevent an attacker from connecting directly to the network, it works even better. When the firewall lives on a proxy server, it makes it harder for an attacker to discover where the network actually is and creates yet another layer of security.

When there is a proxy firewall in place, both the client and the server are forced to conduct the session through an intermediary -- the proxy server that hosts an application layer firewall. Now, each time an external client requests a connection with an internal server or vice versa, the client will open a connection with the proxy instead.

If the connection meets the criteria in the firewall rule base, the proxy will open a connection to the requested server. Because the firewall is placed in the middle of the logical connection, it can watch traffic for any signs of malicious activity at the application layer.

The key benefit of application-layer filtering is the ability to block specific content, such as known malware or certain websites, and recognize when certain applications and protocols, such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and domain name system (DNS), are being misused. Application layer firewall rules can also be used to control the execution of files or the handling of data by specific applications.

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