Internet Firewalls are an absolute requirement for safe corporate use of the Internet. The first rule of information security is to Keep Outsiders Out of the network. Until this goal is achieved, nothing is safe. Today, it is nearly impossible to keep intruders out of Internet-enabled private networks, without some type of firewall. Although commercial firewalls have only existed for three years, powerful third-generation products are already in the market.
Firewalls can keep intruders out of corporate networks, if properly used.
There are two serious obstacles to securing corporate networks with firewalls. The first is the cost and complexity of implementing, maintaining and administering firewalls throughout the enterprise. Few companies adequately staff this difficult, demanding job. More than one in five organizations had no one dedicated to this function at all. Over half of the managers cited lack of personnel and budget as obstacles to addressing security risks.