The risks of deploying distributed firewalls |
 |
EXPERT RESPONSE FROM: Stephen Mencik
|
|
|
|
| > |
QUESTION POSED ON: 06 June 2001
Could you please advise me on the risks involved in deploying distributed
firewalls?
|
|
| > |
A traditional firewall is used to separate an internal network from the
Internet. This provides some level of protection against attacks that come
from external sources, but does nothing to prevent insider attacks.
Distributed firewalls are typically software products that reside on each
individual computer on the network, so that protection is provided against
attacks coming from anywhere.
If one is going to use distributed firewalls (and they're not a bad idea),
don't give up your traditional firewall. The sooner an attack can be stopped, the better off you are. Your traditional firewall can hide the details of your
internal network and prevent your internal machines from even being attacked by
external sources.
The biggest problems with the distributed firewalls are the following:
[1] Consistent application of firewall rules.
[2] Interference with standard applications.
[3] Users blaming problems on on the firewall software.
It is very possible that the firewall software will cause problems with
standard applications. Your users will not be at all happy with that. Even
if the firewall software does not cause problems, it will be blamed for
problems that do occur, and the security support staff will have additional
help-desk work. Keeping every machine up to date with the latest
firewall rules will be a logistical nightmare. However, some products are
coming out with centralized management tools to help with those problems.
So, the short answer to your question, is that the security risks of using
distributed firewalls are minimal, as long as you also keep your traditional firewall. If
you
give up the traditional firewall, you are exposing each of your networked
computers
to individual attack, instead of hiding them behind the firewall. That is a
risk
that I would not recommend.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Search and Browse the Expert Answer Center
Search and browse more than 25,000 question and
answer pairs from more than 250 TechTarget industry experts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
