8 Things To Know About Firewall Configuration

Cyber attacks often target retailers because retailers process a lot of personal data from payment cards that can be used for identity theft, fraud and other nefarious purposes. This puts a lot of pressure on retailers to maintain a strong security posture, and a big part of that is to properly configure your firewalls.

While “firewall” is a common term, not everyone fully understands what it does in the context of cybersecurity. Firewalls block networks and devices from unwanted traffic while also preventing users and devices from accessing dangerous or unsavory content. As such, firewalls act as both inbound and outbound sentries that protect your network from malware infections, intrusions and data theft.

But just throwing up a firewall isn’t enough. Firewalls aren’t static. They must be maintained and updated to prevent new threats. Here are eight important considerations in firewall configuration and maintenance:

1. Traffic Cop

Think of the firewall essentially as a traffic cop that decides what data enters and exits your network. You get to decide how narrow or broad the cop’s authority is. Firewalls can be configured to keep malware from getting in and to prevent connections from within the network to infected websites and applications that can introduce viruses into your environment.