What is a firewall

A firewall is the box at the edge of the network. It sees the traffic that arrives from the internet and what leaves the desks, servers and cameras. With rules, it lets through what the office needs and cuts what should not come in. Without that box, the network opens on the operator router and sits without that protection.

Palo Security supplies SonicWall, WatchGuard, Sophos, Cisco, Fortinet and pfSense firewalls, for headquarters and branches. The choice and the configuration are part of the quote. We do not invent the model in this article.

What it does

It controls the door of the network. It suits businesses with several computers, servers and visitors. In a smaller branch the role is the same; the size of the equipment is what changes. The configuration — what may come in, what may go out, how the branch talks to headquarters — closes in the request, not in a generic list.

What it is not

• It is not the antivirus on the computer. The antivirus treats the desk. The firewall treats the edge of the network. Both show up in the same office; one does not replace the other.
• It is not the router. The router joins the network to the internet. The firewall protects that join. On some requests the function sits in the same appliance; in the request the roles stay distinct.
• It is not a pentest. A pentest looks for flaws in a set time. The firewall is equipment that stays on site.

Headquarters and branch

Headquarters asks for a firewall for the large network. The branch asks for the same kind of protection at a smaller point, on its own or linked to headquarters. Asking only for “a Cisco” without saying headquarters or branch leaves the size open. The line can be SonicWall, WatchGuard, Sophos, Cisco, Fortinet or pfSense — it closes in the quote.

What to say in the request

1. Whether the site is headquarters, a branch or a single office.
2. How many desks, whether there are servers, and whether a firewall already sits on site.
3. Whether the request includes a router, switch or antivirus in the same set.

We do not invent the line. The site and what needs protection close the set. Tell us the office and we prepare the quote.