The Howdy Glossary - "Firewall" Category

A firewall is a security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. Acting as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, such as the Internet, firewalls are crucial for blocking malicious traffic and preventing unauthorized access to a network. They can be hardware-based, software-based, or a combination of both, and are essential components in securing network infrastructures. Firewalls offer functionalities like packet filtering, stateful inspection, and proxy services, and are key in enforcing network security policies. By scrutinizing network traffic and blocking data packets that do not meet the security criteria, firewalls play a critical role in protecting sensitive data and systems from cyber threats.