What is a Network Gateway?

Every IT environment possesses a multitude of devices and components that are at work to ensure seamless connectivity and communication. Among these, a network gateway holds a pivotal role in creating a fast and smooth experience for IT users.

What is a Network Gateway?

Network gateways are designed to translate traffic between different protocols. These translations enable networks using different protocols or data formats to be linked together with the network gateway performing an in-line translation.

The use of network gateways is important for connecting corporate local area networks (LANs) to the public Internet. Internally, many organizations use different protocols than are used on the public Internet, but some of this traffic may be destined for the Internet. By deploying a network gateway at the boundary between the enterprise LAN and the public Internet, communications can be translated between the networks, enabling internal users to send and receive data over the Internet.

How does it work?

To work, network gateways are required to receive, examine, translate, and forward packets of data from one source to another. Physical network gateways have Network Interface Cards (NICs), input/output ports, and software to translate network protocols. If the data from the source and destination networks use different protocols, the network gateway translates the data so the receiving network can understand it. This translation capability extends to network address translations as well. Most routers will use Network Address Translation (NAT) to create a public IP address before sending data out into the internet. This allows the receiving network to identify where it should be sending data back to as private IP addresses cannot be routed onto the internet.

Network gateways are usually found on the network level but could be put anywhere they’re required and can push data only in one direction unidirectionally or allow data to flow both in and out of the network bidirectionally.

Key Functions of a Network Gateway

• Protocol Translation: Gateways can translate different communication protocols to ensure that data can move freely between different network types. For instance, a gateway can convert a packet from an IPv4 network to be compatible with an IPv6 network.
• Data Routing: They determine the best path for data packets to travel from the source to the destination. This routing capability is essential for efficient and reliable network communication.
• Security: Gateways often incorporate security features such as firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection systems to protect the network from unauthorized access and cyber threats.
• Network Address Translation (NAT): This function allows multiple devices on a local network to be mapped to a single public IP address, conserving the number of IP addresses needed and adding a layer of security by hiding internal IP addresses from an external view.
• Bandwidth Management: By controlling the flow of traffic, gateways can prioritize certain types of data and manage bandwidth usage to prevent congestion and ensure optimal network performance.

What are the types of Network Gateway?

Network gateways come in various forms, each tailored to address specific use cases and requirements. Here are some of the most common types:

• Internet Gateway: This type of gateway facilitates communication between a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN) and the Internet. It acts as the primary entry and exit point for internet traffic, translating protocols and ensuring secure connectivity.
• Voice over IP (VoIP) Gateway: As the name suggests, a VoIP gateway enables the integration of traditional analog voice and fax transmissions with digital VoIP protocols, allowing for seamless communication across different telephony systems.
• Internet of Things (IoT) Gateway: With the proliferation of IoT devices employing diverse protocols such as Bluetooth, Zigbee, and LTE-M, IoT gateways serve as crucial intermediaries, connecting these devices to IT networks, cloud platforms, and user applications.
• Cloud Storage Gateway: In the realm of cloud computing, cloud storage gateways play a vital role by translating storage service APIs into block-based or file-based storage interfaces, enabling multi-cloud applications to access and utilize cloud storage resources seamlessly.
• Application Gateway: Certain specialized applications or data streams may require dedicated application gateways to ensure uninterrupted connectivity, security, and optimal performance.
• Cellular Gateway: As cellular networks continue to evolve, offering faster 4G and 5G speeds, cellular gateways have become instrumental in facilitating cellular data access as a primary means of internet connectivity, ensuring compatibility between cellular networks and local networks.
• Wireless Gateway: Also known as a Wi-Fi gateway, this type of gateway is commonly integrated into routers provided by internet service providers (ISPs) for home or small business use. It combines the functions of a gateway and a router, converting data into Wi-Fi signals for wireless access.

Gateways vs routers, bridges, & firewalls

While a network gateway shares some commonalities with routers, bridges, and firewalls, significant differences exist. Routers primarily direct traffic between networks but do not convert protocols, unlike gateways. Bridges connect two segments of the same network, while gateways connect different networks. Firewalls focus mainly on security, monitoring, and controlling network traffic based on predetermined security rules.

Conclusion

Network gateways are incredibly useful when joining two networks together. They facilitate the exchange process, making it unnoticeable to a casual user. They also have additional uses for increasing network security, visibility, and analytics. However, it’s important to emphasize that these additions may not always come with your network gateway setup by default.

The central portal of entry into the organization’s network gateway can also be supplemented with additional tools and software to make your entry better prepared against various online threats.