article thumbnail

What Is Stateful Inspection in Network Security? Ultimate Guide

eSecurity Planet

Stateful inspection is a firewall feature that filters data packets based on the context of previous data packets. This important feature uses header information from established communication connections to improve overall security. Table of Contents Toggle How Does Stateful Inspection Work? Stateless protocols (UDP, HTTP, etc.)

article thumbnail

How to Perform a Firewall Audit in 11 Steps (+Free Checklist)

eSecurity Planet

A firewall audit is a procedure for reviewing and reconfiguring firewalls as needed so they still suit your organization’s security goals. Over time, business network needs, traffic patterns, and application access change. Table of Contents Toggle How Does a Firewall Audit Work?

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

What Is a Firewall Policy? Steps, Examples & Free Template

eSecurity Planet

A firewall policy is a set of rules and standards designed to control network traffic between an organization’s internal network and the internet. It aims to prevent unauthorized access, manage data movement, and guard against potential security threats.

article thumbnail

What Is Packet Filtering? Definition, Advantages & How It Works

eSecurity Planet

Packet filtering is a firewall feature that allows or drops data packets based on simple, pre-defined rules regarding IP addresses, ports, or protocols. Once a type of firewall, packet filtering now provides a fundamental feature of nearly all firewalls and some network equipment (routers, smart switches, etc.).

article thumbnail

Top 12 Firewall Best Practices to Optimize Network Security

eSecurity Planet

Firewalls monitor and control incoming and outgoing traffic while also preventing unauthorized access. Examine the rationale behind present rules, considering previous security concerns and revisions. Overlapping rules may impair firewall efficiency or expose flaws that allow attackers to circumvent regulations.

Firewall 104
article thumbnail

What Is a Circuit-Level Gateway? Definitive Guide

eSecurity Planet

A circuit-level gateway (CLG) is a firewall feature that acts as a proxy and filters packets based on session information. CLGs are important because they provide specialized security filtering and prevent the discovery of IP addresses and open ports on CLG-protected devices.

article thumbnail

What Are Firewall Rules? Ultimate Guide & Best Practices

eSecurity Planet

Firewall rules are preconfigured, logical computing controls that give a firewall instructions for permitting and blocking network traffic. They help IT and security teams manage the traffic that flows to and from their private network.