Gateway vs Firewall: What are the differences?
Network security is one of the most important aspects to consider when working over the internet, LAN, or other methods, no matter how small or big your business is. Both gateways and firewalls are important network protection devices that can detect and address potential security risks in the operation of computer networks in a timely manner, providing users with a better and safer experience of using computer networks. So what are the differences between the gateway vs firewall?
What is a Gateway?
A gateway is a network hardware device or network node designed to connect two different networks together, allowing users to communicate across several networks. The most common gateways are computers and routers connecting an enterprise to a network. They are essential for communication between terminals connected to heterogeneous networks with different network characteristics and using different protocols.
What is a Firewall?
A firewall monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic. Following pre-set security rules, a firewall decides whether to allow or block data traffic. It does this by creating a barrier between incoming traffic from external sources (e.g., the internet) and the internal network – thus blocking malicious traffic like viruses and hackers.
A firewall can be implemented as software or hardware; we recommend you use both. A software firewall is a program installed on each computer that prevents unauthorized access through ports (entry points) and applications. A hardware firewall is a piece of equipment that is installed.
Gateway vs Firewall: What are the differences?
The differences between the gateway and firewall will be demonstrated from the perspectives of meaning, purpose, function, and feature in the following descriptions.
Meaning
A gateway is just a networking tool or hardware node used to join two distinct networks with different protocols and network characteristics. Hence, it links two diverse networks together, letting users communicate across several networks. On the other hand, a firewall is a security system between the modem and the route. Therefore, it can be a standalone hardware device or developed into the router itself.
A firewall is a security system that observes incoming and outgoing traffic based on a pre-decided set of rules and filters traffic from unusual sources.
Purpose
Gateway can make communication possible between two different networks with different architectures and protocols. They can be implemented either as hardware, software, or a combination of both. Although the security gateway can be applied to protect the network but the safety lever is not as high as the firewalls.
Firewalls can safeguard your computer by preventing unauthorized users or hackers from accessing private networks connected to the Internet. Firewalls basically block suspicious traffic like viruses and hackers and the main purpose of firewalls is to keep your network from danger.
Gateway vs Firewall: Function
One can split a gateway into three types based on its functions: protocol gateway, application gateway, and security gateway.
- Protocol gateway: It is for protocol conversions between networks using various protocols, which is the usual gateway’s function.
- Application gateway: It can connect two distinct application layers suitable for protocol translation for a particular application.
- Security gateway: As for security, the gateway can extend protection against online security threats by implementing company security policies and cleaning malicious internet traffic in real-time.
Firewalls offer three essential security functions: packet filtering, stateful inspection, and acting as an application proxy.
- Packet filtering: In packet filtering, the firewall works at the packet level, and it will review the data packet when it appears to or leaves the computer network. Therefore, it uses rules defined by users to decide whether to accept or reject the package. Hence, if the data is proper, then it is received, and vice versa. If it is not, then the information is rejected.
- Static filtering: Opposite to packet filtering, static filtering will check the packet headers and several data elements and compare them with trusted knowledge from the database. Therefore, during the study, the packet is analyzed into its layers by registering the IP address and port number so that security is more robust than packet filtering.
- Application proxy: When the firewall runs as an application proxy, it works at the application level to stop information between internal and external networks.
Gateway vs Firewall: Feature
A gateway can be used for both WAN interconnection and LAN interconnection. A gateway is a computer system or device that does the heavy lifting of switching.
A firewall mainly lies in the timely detection and processing of computer network operation of possible security risks, data transmission, and other issues, including the processing measures, include isolation, and protection, while the computer network security in the implementation of the operation of the record and detection, to ensure the security of computer network operation.
Gateway vs Firewall: Which is the more secure web browser?
The one that efficiently protects one from a variety of online threats is the most secure browser. Constant updates, sandboxing, VPN integration, anti-phishing protection, and automatic HTTPS encryption are only several of the ways the best secure browsers keep you safe.