12.1 Introduction

The Ignite Managed Firewall service is a fully managed platform providing high-quality gateway security and Internet VPNs via IPsec (Internet protocol security) tunnels. Gateway security allows for policing the boundary between the corporate network and the Internet. It prevents access to the corporate network from the Internet (keeps the hackers out), and it controls employees' access to the Internet.

IPsec tunnels provide the ability to establish secure virtual connections across un-trusted networks such as the Internet and can be used to supplement or replace traditional private networks with minimal incremental cost. In addition, customers can choose from a range of value-added features, such as URL filtering and virus protection, which, when combined with the firewall capability, offer a comprehensive solution to gateway security.

Although IP is becoming the ubiquitous standard for public and private data networks, public IP networks (i.e. the Internet) are still inherently open and insecure. The Ignite Managed Firewall service allows enterprises to interconnect public and private IP networks to gain the benefits of connection to the Internet while allowing them to have control over who is able to connect between the two and what kinds of IP traffic can be transferred.

Using Ignite Managed Firewall with the IPsec [1] VPN option, traffic sent over the Internet can be encrypted. This allows an enterprise to extend its private IP network (or intranet) to its other sites or to build an extranet with other companies while benefiting from the advantages of...