Crash Course: Manage Network Security With pfSense Firewall

Use an open source firewall to protect your network. Use features like Failover, Load Balancer, OpenVPN, IPSec, Squid

According to a recent study conducted by a major Cyber Security firm, less than half the online population understands the term "Firewalls" - or know if they have one enabled on their PC.

Firewalls are even more important in a corporate or work environment. It not only keeps the corporate network safe - but can also optimize traffic routing and provide a whole range of other benefits.

If you are connected to the Internet, you are a potential target to an array of cyber threats, such as hackers, keyloggers, and Trojans that attack through unpatched security holes. This means that if you, like most people shop and bank online, are vulnerable to identity theft and other malicious attacks.

A firewall works as a barrier, or a shield, between your PC and cyberspace. When you are connected to the Internet, you are continually sending and receiving information in small units called packets. The firewall filters these packets to see if they meet certain criteria set by a series of rules, and after that blocks or allows the data. This way, hackers cannot get inside and steal information such as bank account numbers and passwords from you.

Basic firewalls such as the one included in your operating systems, only monitor incoming traffic by default. This may give you a false sense of security. Keep in mind, outgoing traffic, with your credit card information, bank accounts, and social security number is not protected. A good firewall will monitor traffic in both directions. That is, both your incoming data and your outgoing data, keeping your private information safe. In addition to preventing unauthorized access to your PC, it also makes your PC invisible when you're online, helping prevent attempted intrusions in the first place.

Firewalls are one of the most critical parts of a network. It’s the first line of defense that your system has against attacks or unwanted visitors, and it makes all the difference in ensuring your data is protected. pfSense is a highly versatile, open source routing and firewall software. With thousands of enterprises using pfSense software, it is fast the world's most trusted open source network security solution.

pfSense has all of the features you would find in a commercial firewall solution and more, and it is absolutely free! Better yet, you can customize pfSense based on your organization’s requirements and create a unique solution that is perfect for you.

Do you know what it takes to install and configure a sophisticated firewall?
How do you scale your firewall from a small home office to a large corporation’s network?
How do you implement security features like VPN, remote access and corporate web proxy?