 
Firewall FAQ
To help answer your questions about firewalls, please see our list of
firewall Frequently Asked Questions below:
• What is a firewall?
o A firewall is your first line of defense when it comes to protecting
your computer. While there are several different kinds of firewalls –
packet switching, proxy servers, application gateways – they are
all designed to do the same thing: control admission between two networks.
• What’s the difference between a hardware firewall
and a software firewall?
o It’s simple. Hardware is the tangible equipment attached to your
computer. If you have a desktop computer, for instance, your monitor is
hardware. The programs installed on your computer, on the other hand,
are software. So, a hardware firewall is a piece of equipment that you
attach to your network system which can be configured to allow only certain
types of traffic. The benefit of a hardware firewall is that it can protect
a whole network and is more difficult to hack into than software. Conversely,
software firewall is a security program that you install on your computer.
It only protects the computer that it is installed on.
• Does Internet Security Systems Group offer firewall products?
o Yes, we have both software and hardware firewall products to meet the
needs of our diverse customer base. Our Security Gateway Software is a
unified system that offers multiple layers of security, including a firewall
system. For small and large businesses, we recommend our line of hardware
firewall products. These security devices range in size and capacity,
each with the ability to protect your system from outside threats. Our
hardware firewall technology has won awards for Best Firewall; across
the globe, our systems protect over 30,000 networks.
• Do the firewall hardware and software products have to
be purchased as a package or can they be purchased separately?
o While our software and hardware products complement each other, they
are independent. Our firewall software can be licensed separately from
our hardware products. This is an excellent option for smaller businesses
that already have hardware firewall devices or have built-in firewalls
operating through routers.
• How do Internet Security Systems Group products protect
my network from threats?
o We utilize a three-pronged approach to network security. Email security,
network security and web security work together to protect your computer
from a variety of threats, including phishing scams, dangerous spam, infected
email attachments as well as malicious intruders.
• Isn’t a firewall all I need for complete security
protection?
o This is a common misunderstanding. While a firewall is an excellent
way to protect your computer or network, it is only a first line of defense
against attacks. It does not scan viruses or email attachments; a firewall
simply guards traffic moving in and out of your network system. A virus
could pass by the firewall and cause problems with your computer. That’s
why we have a unified threat management system which combines web security,
through virus and spyware protection; email security, through spam and
phishing protection; and network security, through firewall and intrusion
protection.
• How is my system administered?
o All Internet Security Systems Group products are cost-effective and
easy to use. For most small and large businesses, a single network administrator
will be able to install and run any one of our Gateway Security Systems.
Configuring one of our firewall systems is made simple through the user-friendly
interface. Plus, all security threats are reported in real-time, so an
administrator can see threats coming in order to address them effectively.
Hourly updates can be installed to keep signatures databases up-to-date,
minimizing occasions for hackers and malicious attackers to destroy your
system.
• How do I know whether I should choose a security appliance
or security software?
o This is one of the most commonly asked questions. If you are inexperienced
at network assurance and security systems, then you should speak to a
trained professional before choosing between hardware and software. Simply
contact us at Internet Security Systems Group and we’ll have one
of our knowledgeable sales representatives speak to you. All you have
to do is tell us a little about your system and what you are using it
for; based on that information, we can make an informed recommendation
on the system that would work best for you.
• Do Internet Security Systems Group products include reporting
features?
o Yes. Our systems are easy to install and easier to use, thanks to our
reporting features. Reporting will allow the administrator to view real-time
security accounts to deal with impending threats.
• How many users can Internet Security Systems Group products
accommodate?
o This depends on whether you choose hardware or software, and then it
depends on which model you choose. The Internet Security Systems Group
Security Gateway 110 can accommodate up to 10 users while the other models
can accommodate an unlimited number. In terms of software, you can license
for anywhere from 10 to an unlimited number of users.
• Will Internet Security Systems Group products work with
my existing firewall?
o All of our software products are Intel-compatible and can be installed
on Intel-compatible PCs as well as servers. Therefore, if you have an
existing firewall, you can still license our software products for additional
support, and your system will operate smoothly.
• Will it take a long time to configure the firewall?
o No. Our products have won awards for their user-friendly interface.
With our security appliances, no additional software is required, and
your firewall and other security features can be configured with a few
simple clicks.
• Why should I choose an Internet Security Systems Group
product over a free firewall?
o There are plenty of free firewall programs available for download. If
another company is giving something away for free, why would anyone bother
paying for a firewall? We are proud to say that our cost-effective security
appliances and software will offer you much greater protection than any
free download. Most free firewalls offer basic protection that might be
sufficient for individual users. This is not the case for businesses.
We specialize in providing security solutions to large and small enterprises
because we understand that security is a very important issue for businesses.
Without a comprehensive threat management system, a business is at risk
of attack, and attacks will affect client confidence. Our multi-dimensional
solutions will protect your business so that you can concentrate on running
it, not securing it. That’s why so many businesses have chosen our
products over free downloads.
We look forward to hearing from you! Contact
us here.
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