Firewall Routers
Security is one of the most important concerns for any industry that utilizes internet connections for data transmission. Security must be built in every step of the network system’s transit in order to reduce the risk of data theft or sabotage. Software and hardware firewalls can be installed to prevent dangerous pieces of data from reaching devices connected to the network.
Software firewalls are installed on each individual computer on a network and can distinguish between its programs. This makes it easy for the software to allow data to one program while blocking another. It also can filter ongoing data as well as remote responses to outgoing requests. Unfortunately, software firewalls require installation, updating and administration on each individual computer.
More Information about Firewall Routers
A router is a device that manages data packet transmission between networks based on their intended IP addresses and allows multiple devices to use the same internet connection. The process of managing and separating the data packets is a kind of firewall. If unwanted data comes in, the router will identify it as belonging to another computer and discard it. Routers lack the advanced features and options that dedicated hardware firewalls offer.
Firewall routers protect the control networks of industrial facilities while maintaining fast data transmission. They are specifically designed for automation networks. Industrial firewall routers combine an industrial firewall, router, VPN and L2 switching functions into a single device that protects the integrity of remote access and critical devices.
Basics of Switches, Routers & Hubs
Ethernet hubs, switches and routers connect computers to networks, devices and other computers.
Ethernet hubs are the least intelligent of the three devices. They simply take any message that is received and transmits it to every other device connected to that hub. For example, if CPU 1 on a network wants to send a message to CPU 5, it will send that message through the hub.The hub will then take that message and send it out to every connected device on that hub regardless of the intended target. When CPU 5 receives that message and wants to respond, it will send its response through the hub which sends it to every connected device. Ethernet hubs do not manage any data that is sent and tend to bog down networks. They also do not offer much security for the network. For these reasons, Ethernet hubs are are being replaced with network switches.
Switches transmit data from one device to another on the same network. Unlike a hub, switches use a switch table to learn where data came from and where to send it. Switch tables store Mac addresses and device ports. By storing this data, a switch can operate more efficiently than a hub, greatly reducing the traffic within the network.
Routers transfer data between devices while learning the location of those devices within the network. They are also a junction between two or more networks. An example of this would be a home router where the home network is connected to the Internet. Another example would be when the router connects two or more networks with different business functions. In addition to connecting two or more networks, a router offers important security features that help protect the network.