Glossary / network hardening acsc-glossary

Firewall

A filter on the way in and out, driven by rules. Default allow is a very expensive switch.

Zero trust control layersZero trust architecture as five stacked control layers: Identity, Device, Network, Application, and Data. Assume breach; authenticate and authorise each request. A VPN badge is not a day pass.IDIdentitywho is askingDEVDeviceis it healthyNETNetworkpath + segmentAPPApplicationDATADataOther layerFocalZERO TRUST / NEVER TRUST · ALWAYS VERIFYEach layer asks again. A VPN badge is not a day pass.Identity and data are the usual focals; the middle three still ask.

A firewall is a network device (or a host agent) that permits or blocks traffic according to a rule set. Direction, port, identity, and application are the usual knobs.

Rules that nobody reviews become archaeology. Any-any at the bottom is a confession. Pair it with segmentation so a hole on the web tier is not a hole on payroll.

A host firewall is still a firewall. Turning it off because an app vendor whined is a change. Ticket it.

Fact source: ASD's ACSC glossary.