Cisco ASA, PIX, and FWSM Firewall Handbook, Second Edition

Foreword

Today’s networks are called upon to securely deliver data, voice, videoconferencing, wireless communication, and much more to a wide variety of users, such as employees, suppliers, partners, and customers. Securing the network has become a vital task to ensure this ubiquitous connectivity is delivered without risking unauthorized access, misuse, or attacks on the network.

While a vast number of different security technologies are now being applied to the problem of securing networks and endpoints, the long-proven and trusted firewall remains the central component to any security deployment. It is the firewall that continues to act as the primary gatekeeper, ensuring that all network traffic, from Layer 2 to Layer 7, is authorized and ...