Network Security Library is sponsored by GFI Software Ltd . Hundreds of sites have been attacked, and many of the attacks have been successful, resulting in root compromises at the targeted sites. We continue to receive reports, and we believe that more attacks are going undetected. It is against this backdrop that the debate on Internet Security rages on.
Some organisations believe that the Internet is too unruly to be used for business.
Others believe that the Internet has too much potential for them to be dissuaded from using it by security breaches, preferring instead to seek ways to minimise their exposure to attacks and to manage the security issue. However it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain an adequate level of security as the number of hosts on a network increases. Internet firewalls maintain a level of segregation between an organisation's network and the Internet that is conducive to good security whilst permitting the requisite level of connectivity. This report discusses what is meant by Internet Security, and presents firewalls as the primary means by which organisations can manage the risks associated with connecting their network to the Internet. Chapter 1 presents an Introduction to Internet Security and discusses the four constituents of it, Authentication, Access Control, Integrity and Confidentiality.