The Difference Between a Smart Firewall and a Regular Firewall is an Important One

When it comes to having reliable network security in place, installing a firewall is one of the basic steps you can take to protect your business from hackers and malware intrusions. A firewall is simply a hardware device or software program that acts as a barrier between your systems and network, and the Internet. By limiting unnecessary communication between your computer network and the Internet, a firewall can keep malicious content from making its way onto your systems and compromising your network and data.

Most, if not all businesses rely on an active Internet connection to complete daily tasks and provide services to clients. A firewall allows you to visit websites without inviting a hacker into your network by only allowing information that has been requested by the user to filter back to your network. But not all firewalls are created equal. Basic firewall technology handles basic filtering, and offers varying degrees of protection. A “smart” firewall, on the other hand, is capable of doing so much more than simply blocking unsavoury content.

A UTM-based (unified threat management) firewall is a crucial part of any business’ IT security infrastructure. This smart firewall option gives your business the benefit of a number of additional protections for your network, such as:

  • Adjustable Content Filtering
  • Antivirus, Antimalware, and Limited Spam Filtering
  • Deep Packet Inspection
  • Stateful Inspection
  • Packet Filtering
  • “Default to Now” Traffic Filtering

Default UTM firewall settings can be effective on their own. However, its best to have an IT professional configure these setting for you to ensure your business is getting the maximum benefit from all of your firewall’s features, and to make sure that there are no gaps or vulnerabilities in your settings that could allow a hacker to slip through. In addition, its critical to keep your firewall current with all of the latest patches and updates.

Want to learn more about the protection the right firewall can offer your business? Contact us at [email protected] or (603) 647-1784. We’re the trusted IT professionals for businesses in .