We lock our houses, our cars, even our bicycles. But do we secure our company's information? Small businesses need to be aware that some networks don't even come with locks installed, much less any other type of protection. How secure is your company's most confidential data? Would your network withstand a hacker, a virus attack or a disgruntled employee?
If you access the Internet for only a couple of minutes a day the likelihood of your being 'hacked' is small. Why? Because each time you logon you are issued with a new 'identity number' (IP address) Hackers access networks through IP addresses. If your IP address is constantly changing, it is difficult for a hacker to locate your IP address quick enough while you are surfing, and get into your system.
However, the same cannot be said of some viruses. They infect unprotected systems, which in turn 'scan' around looking for other systems to infect. If your unlucky and happen to be online while a system scans your IP address a virus could be transferred to your system, leaving you wondering what happened.
Why a hacker would want to enter your system is anybody's guess. Some are merely curious and see hacking as a challenge. Others will hack your network with the intent to cause untold malicious damage or worse, steal valuable or confidential data.
With a permanent link to the Internet, i.e. ADSL line it is critical that you protect your system. Having a permanent link to the web is time saving and often more cost effective. But it opens up a very real danger of being hacked.

HOW A FIREWALL PROTECTS YOUR NETWORK

Not installing a Firewall is like leaving your front door wide open at night. It is inviting crooks to enter your premises. The equivalent to a locked and bolted front and back door - in computer terms - is a firewall.

Firewalls can permit outgoing sessions while denying incoming. This kind of firewall inspects all packets going through the firewall. Packets are only forwarded if they match an access policy rule
It simply ignores any connections unless they're in the access rules (Thus preventing unauthorized access). It also has a connection tracking system that only lets in traffic replying to a request from inside the system.
In other words - A Firewall is like having a security guard that checks people coming in have an appointment and are also sent through a metal detector to check nothing untoward has come in with them.

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