The Business Firewall: More Than a Box by the Internet

A Firewall Is a Practice, Not a Purchase

Buying a firewall is the easy part. An unconfigured, unmonitored, unpatched firewall offers a fraction of the protection its owner assumes — it is the configuration and upkeep that do the work.

Getting Value From It

Start from deny-by-default and open only what the business genuinely needs. Keep the firewall's own firmware patched — it is internet-facing and a target itself. Use its filtering and intrusion-prevention features rather than leaving them off. Review the rules periodically, and watch its logs.

A modern firewall can do a great deal — segment networks, inspect traffic, block known threats. But only if someone owns it. Treat it as a living control, not a one-time install.