As title. I need more info as it's needed in my IT assignment, please help! If I really have no choice I had to crap on free firewalls available.

Thanks in advance.

big corporation uses hardware firewall to protect their networks and data, not software ... some of the more popular firewall are like cisco, sonicwall, watchguard, netscreen, hp procurve and etc .... and some expected features are like VPN, Deep Packet Inspection, High Availability and Reporting .... beside firewall there's also other hardware based security devices to protect data confidentiality while doing data transfer and remote access (SSL VPN, Email Security, Content Security Management, etc) .. good luck in your assignment

yup, agree with metalhead, but hardening is oso play it's part in securing ur data..... if u really need hardware firewall, get some info from security company like e-cop, they might have certain info for ya.....

I believe you heard of TrendMicro, the Japanese AV Company? They are promoting a "Hardware Firewall" that also includes their AV inside. It might, MIGHT be one of the types of advance HF Companies Use. Cheers!

I see. Thanks guys for the opinions and suggestions so far.

My question is, do Banks or other MNCs use hardware firewalls only? Do they use software firewalls as well?

The reason why I ask about the software firewall is the stupid question set by my teacher mentioned about software only but not hardware. So, I was like wtf as I believe even though it's a software firewall it's not as versatile and safe as the hardware ones right?

Thanks in advance.

they MIGHT or MIGHT NOT.

they CAN use software firewall but if you think about it - you have 800 staff, so each time you buy - how many licenses do you have to buy? then what about yearly renewal / maintenance?

oh and let's not forget that you have to ensure all the units have it installed and working.

then of course there's the user who (especially those higher ranked users) keep calling you and telling you they can't access some site blabablaabla.

i've dealt with a few agencies (gov't / private) and they use only hardware firewall. i've not come by any that uses software firewall other than that of Windows OS.

here my take on firewalls.
Most MNC i've met uses hardware based firewall as most of the hardware based firewalls are actually computers/servers which are easily upgradable. They can already match software based firewall interms of function and feature.
Most deciding factor is reducing latency in the network. You must remember that each packet that goes through the firewall must be administered thorugh the same process of checking/authenticate the packet and whether to allow or disallow based on its policy. this consumes time. Hardware based firewall reduces latency due to its opmimization factor. The software inside is optimized to run on that hardware and usually use BSD kernel as its base or something of that sort. Even some brands uses RISC processor to spped up the overall performance.

Software firewalls now seems to be sitting on client PCs most cases as it is not practical to put a hardware on every client.

I see, goldfries. Thanks for your entry / POV.

So, bean_man, do you know any names for the hardware firewalls? I mean any specific brand/name/calling for it? I'll try to google it up to get more info.

Thanks for the input btw.

hi, just somekeyword u can look up on google. sorry cant tell much cuz afraid to breach my non-disclosure agreement.

nokia ip firewall
checkpoint
BSD firewall
netscreen

Oh? I see. There is a non-disclosure agreement... Hmm.
Anyway, those entries are helpful, thanks!

aiyoh there's sooooooooooo many. you'll get the brands when google words like
network security appliance firewall

enjoy.

^ Thank you goldfries!

This should be more than enough. Thanks for everyone who'd contributed! I really appreciate it.

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