Nearly every enterprise large and small uses a firewall. According to the 2006 Computer Security Institute’s CSI/FBI Computer Crime and Security Survey, 98 percent of survey respondents use a firewall, and 97 percent use anti-virus software.

Yet the number of organizations suffering from viral infections, break-ins and hacks continues to increase, and the reported losses can be startling. This presents a fundamental question: are firewalls doing any good?

And if they are, why are companies still losing millions of dollars and/or losing consumers in the face of negative publicity even when they use firewalls?

Given the right approach and a good understanding of firewall fundamentals, you can stop attacks from crossing into your internal network.

This paper discusses key aspects of enterprise firewalls, including fundamental characteristics, deployment, compliances, types, function, and unified threat management capabilities.