5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Firewall | Drawbacks & Benefits of Firewall

Attacks can occur on any computer that has an internet connection. Certain computers may have greater vulnerabilities than others. There needs to be a system that serves as a gateway between the user and the internet in order to safeguard against them.

In essence, a firewall is a kind of wall that keeps hackers out of a network. It might be among the greatest defenses yet developed to fend off online dangers. Along with preventing cyberattacks, it shields your PC from other online dangers.

 

Even if the firewall offers the great majority of its advantages, there may also be some disadvantages. Gaining an understanding of the advantages and disadvantages will enable you to make better use of the instrument in order to maximize the potential of your enterprise.


I will be demonstrating the 5 Advantages and Disadvantages of Firewall | Drawbacks & Benefits of Firewall in this essay. Having read this essay, you will now be aware of the pros and cons of firewall use.

Now let's get started,

 

Advantages of Firewall

1. Monitor Traffic

A firewall's primary duty is to keep an eye on the traffic that flows through it. Any kind of data that is transferred via a network is represented by packets. Every one of these packets is examined by the firewall for potential dangers. In the unlikely event that the firewall discovers them, it will stop them right away.


2. Protection against Trojans

Trojans are a particularly harmful kind of malware for users. Sitting silently on your computer, a Trojan monitors everything you do on it. They will send whatever data they collect to a web server. 

 

It goes without saying that you won't become aware of them until your machine starts acting strangely. In this case, a firewall will stop Trojans right away before they can harm your system.


3. Prevent Hacking

Cybercriminals are always searching the internet for machines to use for their illicit activities. In the event that hackers discover these machines, they will begin to carry out even more sinister tasks, like disseminating malware. 

 

In addition to those hackers, there may be unidentified individuals searching for an open internet connection, including neighbors. Therefore, having firewall protection is a smart idea to prevent such invasions.


4. Access Control

An access policy that can be applied to specific hosts and services is included with firewalls. Attackers may be able to take advantage of certain hosts. Thus, preventing such hosts from accessing the system is the best course of action. 

 

This access restriction can be applied if a user feels that they require protection against this kind of unauthorized access.


5. Better Privacy

One of a user's main concerns is privacy. Hackers are always searching for privacy information to obtain user insights. However, many of the services provided by a website, including the domain name service and the finger, can be disabled by employing a firewall. 

 

Thus, there is no possibility for the hackers to obtain personal information. Firewalls can also prevent the site system's DNS information from being accessible. As a result, the attackers won't be able to see the names or IP address. 

Disadvantages of Firewall

1. Cost

Depending on the kind, firewalls do require an investment. Generally speaking, hardware firewalls cost more than software firewalls. In addition, hardware firewalls need to be installed and maintained, which can be expensive. 

 

Without a knowledgeable IT staff member, these kinds of settings cannot be completed. When compared to a software firewall, this requires less expenditure and can be deployed by the typical user with ease.


2. User Restriction

Firewalls unquestionably stop illegal users from accessing your machine across the network. Although the typical user may benefit from this, huge companies may find it problematic. 

 

The firewall cab's policies are stringent enough to forbid staff from performing specific tasks. This could have a negative impact on the company's overall productivity. 

 

On occasion, this may also discourage staff members from utilizing backdoor attacks. However, since the data passed through these backdoor attacks is not thoroughly inspected, this could result in security issues.


3. Performance

Firewalls, particularly those that are software-based, have the power to reduce the overall performance of your computer. A computer's overall performance is determined by a number of elements, including its processor power and RAM capacity. 

 

Software firewalls need more RAM and processing power when they are always running in the background. This can result in a decrease in system performance. Hardware firewalls, on the other hand, don't affect system performance because they don't use computer resources.

4. Malware Attacks

Firewalls are effective at blocking the most common kinds of trojans, but they are helpless against more sophisticated malware. Malware of this kind can infiltrate your system by pretending to be reliable data. 

 

Consequently, it is still advised to have anti-malware software installed on your computer even if you have a firewall. Because doing an anti-malware check is the only method to get rid of them.


5. Complex Operations

Large corporations cannot afford the ease of firewall maintenance that small businesses enjoy. Large enterprises need a distinct team to manage their firewalls. These individuals ensure that the firewall is secure enough to keep outsiders out of the network.