Secure Your System
Build comprehensive firewall protection with CyberwallPLUS 6.0.
- By Barry Shilmover
- December 01, 2000
Today, computer security is a hot topic within most organizations.
With more organizations targeted by hackers and other
unscrupulous types, many IT/IS departments are implementing
firewall solutions. CyberwallPLUS 6.0 is the first distributed
host-resident firewall on the market for Windows NT/Win2K.
CyberwallPLUS 6.0 is actually made up of four distinct
products: CyberwallPLUS-SV for servers, CyberwallPLUS-WS
for workstations, CyberwallPLUS-AP for the enterprise,
and CyberwallPLUS-IP for the perimeter. Because space
here is limited, I examined only CyberwallPLUS-SV and
CyberwallPLUS-WS for this review.
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| Because it employs an intuitive user interface,
creating authorized and unauthorized nodes with CyberwallPLUS
is simple. |
CyberwallPLUS-SV is designed to run on NT 4.0 Server,
Win2K Server, and Win2K Advanced Server. It allows the
administrator to log all incoming and outgoing connections
and intrusion attempts, recognizes and protects some 4,500
protocols, and identifies suspicious network activities.
CyberwallPLUS-WS is designed to run on NT 4.0 Workstation
and Win2K Professional. This application can prevent the
workstation user from employing unauthorized applications
on the internal network. These can include Telnet and
port scanners, plus programs and games such as Napster
and Doom.
CyberwallPLUS-WS can be deployed in “headless” format.
This hides the user interface from the user and allows
the administrator to remotely configure and control the
firewall. Installation is simple. After a system reboot,
an administrator simply has to click on the “Start Filter
Engine” button and the firewall is running. Configuring
the server is equally as easy. One of the features I like
best is the software’s built-in security policies, such
as Microsoft NetBIOS Server Security and Microsoft Exchange
Server Security, which make firewall configuration straightforward.
With a simple security policy selection, CyberwallPLUS
reconfigures its rules to perform a different security
task. What’s more, changing the security template changes
the firewall rules on the spot, without the need to reboot
the server.
CyberwallPLUS’ graphical user interface makes administration
a cinch. Informing the firewall of the authorized and
unauthorized systems on the network is easy using the
application interface’s Nodes section. Once again, no
reboot is required when modifying the node lists. In addition,
the software has built-in tools to detect, stop, and report
a wide range of network attacks, including SYN Flood,
Ping Flood, and Smurf-based attacks. You can control the
actions to be taken when an attack is detected.
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| CyberwallPLUS allows easy control
of hacker attacks. |
With its flexible pricing structure, CyberwallPLUS can
be considerably cheaper than other firewall solutions,
making it an attractive option for securing workstations,
servers, and networks. This product is loaded with features
and well worth looking at for your organization.
About the Author
Barry Shilmover, MCSE+I, MCT, owns Shilmover Consulting Services, a Microsoft
Solution Provider specializing in Windows NT/2000 and Exchange 5.5/2000 solutions.
He has co-authored books that include Windows 2000 System Administrator’s
Black Book and Exchange 5.5 Exam Cram, both from Coriolis Press.