What is the function of the Cisco firewall service module? A firewall is a network security device that protects computers from unauthorized access or damage.
The Cisco firewall service module is a software module that provides advanced firewall services. Let us tackle what those services are below.
Introducing Cisco Firewall Service Module
The Cisco firewall service module is a network security device that provides advanced firewall services. It is a software module that works with Cisco routers and Catalyst 6500 switches.
Also, the Cisco firewall service module provides firewall protection for IP traffic. The Cisco firewall service module supports multiple operating systems, such as:
- Cisco IOS XR
- Cisco IOS
- UNIX
Let us look at the following topics in detail.
Firewall Services
The Cisco firewall service provides the following advanced firewall services. For mobile users, the SSL VPN feature allows remote users to connect to their corporate network over the Internet.
So this feature is often used to provide secure remote access to the corporate network for users who are outside of the office. The SSL VPN feature supports strong authentication and encryption, making it a secure option for remote users.
The Cisco firewall service offers application control services that allow administrators. It is to configure granular filtering on specific applications based on URL, port, or IP address.
So this feature helps administrators block unauthorized applications. While allowing authorized applications through filtering policies based on application signatures or user roles.
Application control features also include logging of blocked access attempts. And also notification of unauthorized application use through email or SNMP traps.
Application control helps administrators to protect their networks against inappropriate use of Web-based applications such as:
- online games
- online file storage and sharing programs
- peer-to-peer file sharing applications that might contain malicious code
Also, instant messaging applications such as:
- Yahoo! Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM)
- peer-to-peer VoIP applications such as Skype and Vonage
The Cisco firewall service also offers other security features. Such as stateful inspection of traffic flows, and denial of service prevention using TCP resets to malicious hosts.
Also, the SMTP anti-relay protection and anti-spam protection use content filters. Moreover, antivirus protection uses URL filtering based on antivirus signatures.
Then the web filtering uses URL filtering based on Web content filtering system signatures or user roles. And also intrusion prevention using intrusion detection system (IDS) signatures.
Some of these features are optional depending on the configuration of the Cisco firewall service software image.
In Additional Information
The Cisco firewall service offers Network Address Translation (NAT) services. They are used by small offices that require an Internet connection but do not have a public IP address.
So the Cisco firewall service supports NAT and firewall services in one device. So this is because the Cisco firewall service can be configured as an Internet edge device.
Also, it can be configured as a network address translator.
Conclusion:
For small offices with limited IT resources, the Cisco firewall service module provides a cost-effective and simple solution. It combines two functions in a single device. So this is the firewall and NAT.
Moreover, the Cisco firewall service module offers advanced firewall services such as application control and IDS signatures. So this helps to protect small offices from inappropriate applications and malicious traffic.