Comments on: Tom Shinder on “hardware” firewalls http://exchangeserverpro.com/tom-shinder-on-hardware-firewalls Microsoft Exchange Server News - Tips - Tutorials Thu, 24 May 2012 02:47:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Capslock Assassin http://exchangeserverpro.com/tom-shinder-on-hardware-firewalls#comment-39 Capslock Assassin Sat, 01 Sep 2007 08:32:07 +0000 http://www.capslockassassin.com/2007/08/31/tom-shinder-on-hardware-firewalls/#comment-39 Ray, I pretty much agree with you on all counts there. The terms "hardware firewall" and "security appliance" are very much marketing terms which tend to confuse the non-technical person who controls IT spending into thinking they are buying the better product. Actually some very technical people put too much weight on those terms as well. Thankfully there is the ISA appliance to sell to them if they can't let go of that terminology ;-) Ray, I pretty much agree with you on all counts there. The terms “hardware firewall” and “security appliance” are very much marketing terms which tend to confuse the non-technical person who controls IT spending into thinking they are buying the better product. Actually some very technical people put too much weight on those terms as well.

Thankfully there is the ISA appliance to sell to them if they can’t let go of that terminology ;-)

]]> By: Ray http://exchangeserverpro.com/tom-shinder-on-hardware-firewalls#comment-38 Ray Sat, 01 Sep 2007 02:10:49 +0000 http://www.capslockassassin.com/2007/08/31/tom-shinder-on-hardware-firewalls/#comment-38 First off, there's no such thing as a "hardware firewall" unless it runs on pulleys, valves and relays. They all run on software whether it's stored on hard drives on in firmware. Secondly, all software is written by humans who make mistakes and mistakes can be just as bad in firmware or on hard drives. Thirdly, any half-decent firewall can protect the device it's installed on whether it has hard drives or not. Lastly, appliances? T'ain't no such thing. Single-purpose servers might be a better description, but with CIO's on a "server consolidation" kick, an "appliance" doesn't count against their server total. If it's got an operating system and it has to be maintained, it's a server (or a desktop). Ray First off, there’s no such thing as a “hardware firewall” unless it runs on pulleys, valves and relays. They all run on software whether it’s stored on hard drives on in firmware.

Secondly, all software is written by humans who make mistakes and mistakes can be just as bad in firmware or on hard drives.

Thirdly, any half-decent firewall can protect the device it’s installed on whether it has hard drives or not.

Lastly, appliances? T’ain’t no such thing. Single-purpose servers might be a better description, but with CIO’s on a “server consolidation” kick, an “appliance” doesn’t count against their server total. If it’s got an operating system and it has to be maintained, it’s a server (or a desktop).

Ray

]]> By: Tom Shinder http://exchangeserverpro.com/tom-shinder-on-hardware-firewalls#comment-37 Tom Shinder Fri, 31 Aug 2007 13:51:42 +0000 http://www.capslockassassin.com/2007/08/31/tom-shinder-on-hardware-firewalls/#comment-37 Great! Glad you enjoy the article :) Tom Great! Glad you enjoy the article :)

Tom

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