Firewalls: Hardware vs. Software

What is the difference between a hardware and a software firewall?

Let’s start off by defining both.

A hardware firewall consists of an appliance provided by ICE Systems that is pre-loaded with firewall software. The administrator is not required to install anything; he only needs to plug the appliance into the existing network. Hardware firewalls include a web-based graphical interface that can be installed on any computer in the network, allowing the administrator to configure firewall settings.

With a software firewall, the administrator has the flexibility to choose which machine he wants to dedicate as the firewall appliance. The operating system installed on the firewall appliance is a variety of Linux that runs in the background and requires no configuration.

A software firewall is essentially the same as the hardware firewall. The main difference is there is no appliance provided, only media or email links containing the firewall software

Once the administrator installs the firewall software it “takes over” the machine, overwriting any operating system and data previously stored on the hard drive.

Like a hardware firewall, a software firewall includes a web-based graphical interface that allows the administrator to configure firewall settings. Linux is also the operating system of choice that runs silently in the background on the machine dedicated to run the firewall software.

Ok now we know the differences, so which one is better? The answer to this question is, it depends.

The memory, disk, and processing requirements for a machine acting as a dedicated firewall appliance, whether provided, or selected by you, are minimal. Most any X86-based pc can more than adequately act as the hardware component for your firewall.

If your organization has unused computers, previously thought to be outdated, the chances are they can still perform exceptionally as a dedicated firewall appliance. An obvious benefit of using one of your machines as the firewall appliance is the cost you can leverage by utilizing a previously deprecated machine in a functional role.

If you choose a computer of your own to act as the firewall appliance the onus of installation and maintenance is yours. The skills needed to install a software firewall are minimal – a basic understanding of command-line Linux is all that is required. If the hardware you select to run the firewall software breaks down you are responsible for repairs, if the machine is still under warranty or you are a “hardware guy” this won’t be a problem. The software firewall that ICE Systems offers includes backup and restore functionality that can ease the pain involved with replacing a defective hard drive for example.

The protection afforded and options provided with hardware and software firewalls are the same. The choice comes down to machine availability, installation know-how and willingness to take on the responsibility of hardware management.

Whether you decide on a hardware or software firewall you can rest assured that ICE Systems will be available to assist in all areas of installation and deployment. If you have additional questions please contact one of our network security experts at 1-877-332-3250.