Report:
Lock The Doors
There’s
work to be done!
Now that DSL, Cable and Wireless Internet access are right around the
corner, don't be fooled into thinking you can set up an inexpensive high-speed
connection to the Internet and then you're done.
It is not that simple.
Don't get us wrong . . . these are cost
effective connectivity tools that will allow users on your network to share an
Internet connection. For the price,
the speeds are fantastic!
But don't leap into high speed Internet
connection without considering all the ramifications.
Because infotex
comes from an objective, independent position, we can afford to spell out the
issues related to shared Internet access.
This
starts with your firewall.
You need firewall protection. Period. Even if
you feel your corporate data is not that valuable, don't fool yourself.
Offices without a front door are inviting vandals to come in and look
around, possibly to destroy or steal valuables.
The
same with your company network.
You need to at least have a door, and
probably a lock, possibly a deadbolt. Many
of you are also going to need a security system that will monitor access to your
network.
What kind of firewall will I need?
Like anything else in Information
Technology, there are many different types of firewalls.
By the time you finish your first phone call on the subject, you are
likely going to be confused. That's
the nature of the game.
There
are reasonably priced solutions. However,
cheap is not always good. There are
lots of vendors out there pushing firewall appliances under $500 that are
supposedly going to do the work of systems that cost tens of thousands of
dollars. Beware! It’s
Information that you are protecting. It
is the Information Age. Information
is capital. It is a valuable
resource. Don’t lock up your
valuables with one of those plastic padlocks they used to put in cracker jacks
boxes.
What
considerations are there?
The issues that you will need to
address when it comes to designing adequate firewall protection depend upon your
unique situation. infotex
will be happy to help you select the firewall protection most suitable for your
business. When we consult with you,
we'll be asking questions similar to the following:
 | Who
will be administering your firewall? What
level of technical knowledge does that person have? |
| How
important are your security needs? How
valuable is your data? |
| Who
else might want access to your data? What
would they sacrifice to get your data? |
| How
computer literate are your ex-employees? |
| What
other "Internet Services" do you need now and in the future?
(Some firewall systems provide other services)
Do you already have an internal e-mail system, or should you create
one? |
| Do
you want shared Internet access for the users on your network (usually the
answer to this is yes)? |
| What
restrictions would you put on that access? Who on your network do you want to prohibit access to
the Internet? |
| Are
there websites you would want to restrict? |
| Are
there certain times you would want to restrict access to certain types of
Internet sites? |
| How
much are you paying to host your web site? How many hits are you experiencing daily?
Would it be more cost effective to move this in-house? |
| Will
you be sharing data with users outside your local area network on a regular
basis? |
| If
you do not currently have remote access to your network, would now be a good
time to install it? |
| Are
you currently providing remote access to your network?
If so, what type of configuration are you currently deploying? |
| What
are the costs associated with this access? Do you access the network via long distance?
ISDN? |
| Is
the speed during this access satisfactory? |
As you can see, there are many questions that
need to be answered before selecting a firewall.
infotex
employs professionals who have been working with high speed Internet products
since they have been available and are working with certified security experts (CISSP).
We'd be happy to assist you in this very important decision.
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Firewall Considerations
Information
Architecture
To learn more about infotex,
visit us at
www.infotex.ws,
or call us at (800) 466-9939. Fax to (765) 236-2333!
