Security in an Open Network Environment

Abstract

The dramatic growth of the Internet has brought the information superhighway to our doorstep. It presents a new concept of public networking, offering new forms of communication and services. Most organizations now accept that a connection to the Internet is inevitable, but are concerned about the new security threats that arise from attaching their private, enterprise network to a public network. This paper will review the nature of threats that arise and discuss the tradeoffs that must be considered in developing a security policy. Design alternatives for firewalls will be discussed, with an emphasis on the strengths and weaknesses of the different designs. A range of available tools will also be considered.