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Firewall

Definition

A firewall is a security system that monitors and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined rules. It forms a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external traffic.

Firewalls come in two forms: hardware firewalls (separate equipment, such as a next-generation firewall) and software firewalls. Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW) go beyond traditional firewalls by inspecting packet contents, recognizing applications, and integrating with threat intelligence.

Related terms

IDS/IPS (Intrusion Detection/Prevention System) Network Segmentation Zero Trust