If your business regularly connects to a public network, such as the internet, it will likely encounter cyber threats. A firewall can mitigate your business’s risk of an attack by monitoring, as well as blocking, suspicious traffic. There are different types of firewalls, however, including distributed. Distributed firewalls work like all other firewalls by controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic, but they use a unique architecture that distinguishes them from their counterparts.
What Is a Distributed Firewall?
A distributed firewall is a host-oriented firewall that’s designed to monitor network traffic for cyber threats. Like traditional firewalls, they are typically capable of blocking cyber threats as well. Distributed firewalls look for various signs of a cyber attack, such as suspicious Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, while blocking the respective traffic if it contains them.
Distributed firewalls are distinguished from traditional firewalls by the way in which they operate. Traditional firewalls typically operate on a single computer where they monitor traffic on the same network used by the computer. Distributed firewalls, on the other hand, operate across the entire network while using the resources from many computers or machines.
Benefits of Using a Distributed Firewall
By using a distributed firewall, your business will be better protected against cyber threats. Distributed firewalls are unique because they can protect against cyber threats on both sides of your business’s network. Traditional firewalls work under the assumption that all the traffic on your business’s side of the network is secure. Normally, this is true, but cyber attacks can occur anywhere, including within your business’s network.
A distributed firewall offers a more complete and robust level of protection against cyber attacks. Unlike traditional firewalls, they don’t assume that all traffic on your business’s side is secure. Instead, distributed firewalls will use the power from multiple computers or machines to deep-scan all the traffic that comes into and out of your business’s network.
Choosing Between a Distributed Firewall and a Traditional Firewall
Rather than only using a distributed firewall or a traditional firewall, consider using them both. There’s no rule stating that you can only use a single firewall. Many businesses use multiple firewalls for increased protection against cyber attacks.
With both a traditional firewall and a distributed firewall, you’ll reap the cybersecurity benefits of both types. The distributed firewall may catch a threat on your business’s side of the network that may be overlooked by the traditional firewall.
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