Firewalls for small businesses

Internet routers that are provided by an Internet provider such as Deutsche Telekom are designed so that the provider can access the router from outside. This enables the provider to provide help or install new software on the systems if necessary.

Although these features are beneficial for the ISP, they clearly represent a potential security vulnerability for businesses. The features can be viewed as a type of "backdoor" that can also be used as part of online searches. As a rule, these functions cannot be switched off.

With this option for remote maintenance of the router, the Internet provider also has, at least theoretically, access to all connected devices, including telephones.

From your company's perspective, it is therefore important to take alternative security measures to ensure an adequate level of protection.

You should be aware that routers provided by a provider may represent a potential security vulnerability.

Professionally installed firewall systems behind the routers provided by the providers can be configured and set up so that the provider no longer has access to the network from outside.

Professional firewalls usually offer advanced features for VPN connections, such as:

1. Support for multiple VPN protocols: Professional firewalls typically offer support for a variety of VPN protocols to ensure a secure and reliable VPN connection for remote employees or external branch offices.
   
   
2. Scalability: A professional firewall can support numerous VPN connections and is able to effectively manage traffic to ensure high availability and performance for all users.
   
   
3. VPN authentication: A professional firewall offers advanced VPN authentication options, such as two-factor authentication or integration with Active Directory, to ensure that only authorized users can access the network.
   
   
4. VPN Encryption: A professional firewall provides multiple forms of strong encryption of VPN connections to ensure that all transmitted data is secure.
   
   
5. VPN Monitoring: A professional firewall provides advanced VPN connection monitoring capabilities to ensure all connections are secure and stable.

If your company has multiple locations, comprehensive firewall solutions are an important part of network segmentation.

Firewalls can divide the entire network across multiple locations into multiple segments to regulate and monitor traffic between locations.

This allows malicious attacks to be limited to a specific segment without endangering the entire network.

While standard connections and normal routers usually only have one IP address, professional firewall systems can manage multiple IP addresses and network segments.

If a company receives multiple IP addresses from its provider, a professional firewall can be configured to manage all of these addresses. This allows a company to split traffic across different internal network segments, each with its own IP address.

In addition, professional firewalls can also manage multiple WAN connections, allowing for higher bandwidth and redundancy. If a connection fails or becomes overloaded, the firewall can automatically switch to another connection to ensure the network runs smoothly

An IDS/IPS system within firewalls is an additional layer of network security that helps detect and respond to threats. IDS/IPS systems complement the functions of firewalls.

An IDS system analyzes network traffic and detects unusual or suspicious patterns. If the system detects a potential security risk, an alert is sent to the administrator.

IPS systems go one step further and can block or interrupt malicious traffic before it reaches the network.

IDS/IPS systems in firewalls typically work with various technologies such as signature detection, anomaly detection and behavioral analysis.

Signature detection compares network traffic to known threats and attack patterns.

Anomaly detection detects unusual behavior or deviations from normal behavior patterns. Behavioral analytics monitors the behavior of applications and systems on the network and detects unusual behavior patterns.

Backup-redundant firewall systems, also known as high-availability or failover firewalls, can be used.

These systems are used to ensure that if the primary firewall fails or malfunctions, it seamlessly switches to a backup firewall to keep the network running smoothly.

Backup redundant firewall systems typically work by using two or more identical firewalls connected together in a master-slave relationship. In this scenario, the primary firewall is configured as a master node and the backup firewall is configured as a slave node. If the primary firewall fails or becomes unavailable for any other reason, the backup firewall automatically takes over all tasks of the primary firewall. This process is called failover. This configuration can minimize downtime as the backup firewall seamlessly takes over the functions of the primary firewall.

Backup redundant firewall systems can also be combined with other technologies such as Virtual Router Redundancy Protocol (VRRP) and Hot Standby Router Protocol (HSRP) to further increase network availability. These technologies allow multiple firewalls to present themselves as a group and collectively provide a virtual IP address. If one firewall in the group fails, another firewall will automatically take over that virtual IP address.

A DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) is a network segment that lies between the internal network and the Internet and serves as a buffer zone within the company's professional firewalls to ensure higher security of the internal network. A DMZ can be useful in many cases, especially if companies want to protect their IT systems from external threats.

Example: If you operate a system at your site that exchanges data with your customers or other companies, it is essential to ensure that these systems are not simply integrated into the same network segment as your work computers. Although a firewall is an important security component, it must also be designed and integrated to ensure an adequate level of protection.

Professional firewalls therefore provide their own network interface, usually referred to as a DMZ, to provide systems for exchanging data from outside. This measure ensures that people and hackers do not have access to security-relevant areas that are behind the actual firewall.

By providing a dedicated network interface for systems used to exchange data with external partners, the firewall provides additional security and ensures that the internal network remains protected from unauthorized access.

Professional firewalls obtain a variety of information from external sources to further protect the network and detect threats.

For example, these systems regularly obtain so-called ACL lists or are connected to databases that are informed about current threads and threats and use these to increase network security.

ACL lists are lists of access rules that define which network traffic should be allowed or blocked. Professional firewalls can read ACL lists and control network traffic based on these rules.

Databases of current threads and threats allow firewalls to respond quickly to new threats. Our professional enterprise firewalls can access threat databases and collect information about known threats. This information can then be used to detect and block attacks early.