A firewall is the security device that sits on the very edge of your network, and handles all ‘traffic’ between you and the outside world. It is the first, and by far the most important, defence against external attack. In a modern IT infrastructure, no-one should overlook such a vital piece of equipment. Sadly, however, although most companies install firewalls, it is common to see that the resilience of the firewall is grossly overestimated.

Dean & Hilton can investigate your network, and recommend an appliance that will suit your needs. For small and simple networks, with no public services hosted from the office, a small commodity machine may be adequate. More complex setups may require the proven power and security of a Checkpoint solution.

Over the last few years, the firewall has moved from being a hidden piece of security equipment and has taken on a wider role. It is this device which frequently allows secure, private connections to be made from remote locations. These VPN tunnels allow users to connect from home or an internet café, and access vital office services such as email. With the correct firewall device, such remote connectivity may be just a small configuration change away.