Network Security, Firewalls, and VPNs, 3rd Edition

The Downside of Encryption with Firewalls

Encryption is a common security mechanism you can employ to protect data in storage and in transit. When used properly, encryption provides confidentiality protection. Encryption prevents unauthorized third parties from gaining access to secured content. With the risk of eavesdropping and data theft constantly increasing, the use of encryption is more than a good idea, it is an essential element of storage and transaction security.

However, encryption does have a downside relative to firewalls. A firewall is typically not the intended destination or direct communication partner of a communication, especially an encrypted communication. Thus, any encrypted data cannot be filtered by a firewall. However, ...