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Michael S. Mimoso, Editorial DirectorFirewalls, on the other hand, act as the "traffic cop" for all inbound and outbound network traffic, ensuring that it meets network security policy. If your networking strategy calls for a proxy server, I would strongly recommend using it in conjunction with a firewall.
That said, some network firewalls combine proxy functionality with packet filtering. These so-called "proxy firewalls" establish connections with local systems on behalf of remote users (and vice-versa), eliminating the direct connection between systems. Such an arrangement allows the proxy firewall to perform content filtering and provide Layer 7 defenses. If you can afford one, these firewalls provide the strongest available level of firewall protection on the market today.
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This was first published in December 2007