Actually, I'd prefer an ISA firewall appliance, esp. once with the Britestream SSL offload cards. Its pre-hardened based on the vendor's specs, and provides the security and flexibility of ISA firewalls. Check Point servers are good too, but you'll pay a big premium. Juniper? You can pass exploits through those boxes at wicked speeds, no doubt about it.
But re-read what David LeBlanc has to say about system hardening, and think about the reasons for "hardening" the ISA firewall and what it is you're trying to accomplish. I've found it requires little if any hardening from "a thinking man's point of view", and that most hardening that's done is for appearances sake only. The real key to answering this question is: What are your requirements? What are you trying to protect? What level of access control to you require? What level of detailed reporting do you require? What throughput to you require? HTH, Tom Thomas W Shinder, M.D. Site: www.isaserver.org Blog: http://spaces.msn.com/members/drisa/ Book: http://tinyurl.com/3xqb7 MVP -- ISA Firewalls **Who is John Galt?** > -----Original Message----- > From: Marcos Marrero [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 10:58 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: ISA Server or Firewall Appliance? > > > Hello to all, > > I have a question to see what everyone out there thinks. Here > it goes... > > Is it better to have a firewall appliance (Checkpoint, > Juniper, etc) or > is ISA server enough to use as a firewall (along with all of the other > options it provides)? > > Of course the ISA server would sit facing the internet, like > a firewall > would and it would have to sit on a hardened machine. > > Just want to know what everyone out there thinks about this > configuration or idea? > > Regards > Marcos Marrero * Banking Officer * Data Security > Lloyds TSB Bank * US Information Technology > _________________________________ > Tel: (305) 347-6421 * Fax (305) 371-8607 > > > > ********************************************************************** > This Email is intended for the exclusive use of the addressee only. > If you are not the intended recipient, you should not use the > contents nor disclose them to any other person and you should > immediately notify the sender and delete the Email. > > Lloyds TSB Bank plc is registered in England and Wales Number: 2065. > Registered office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. > > ********************************************************************** > > > This email has been scanned for all viruses by the MessageLabs SkyScan > service. > > -------------------------------------------------------------- > ------------- > -------------------------------------------------------------- > ------------- > > > --------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
