All right, let's jump right into this cyber security deep dive.
You've sent us some really interesting stuff on firewalls
and then intrusion detection and prevention systems.
Tell the security to get serious about security, huh?
Definitely.
And it's more important now than ever.
We're talking about really understanding how to keep systems
and data safe.
And that goes way beyond just the basics these days.
Totally. So firewalls, everyone's heard of them.
But it's kind of even more than just a wall between you and the bad guys, right?
Yeah, it's way more complex than that.
Think of it like a really, really good bouncer for your network.
They decide what gets in and what stays out,
keeping a close eye on everything that passes through.
We used to just block traffic based on simple things.
Like IP addresses, you know, kind of like checking IDs at the door.
But now that kind of basic security approach
wouldn't work against the hackers of today.
They're way too sophisticated for that now.
Exactly.
Cyberthreads got smarter so firewalls had to level up too.
That's where next generation firewalls come in.
The NGFW is for short.
NGFW is okay.
What makes them so next, Jen?
They're like having a whole security team built right in.
They're analyzing everything in real time,
not just looking at surface stuff.
We're talking deep packet inspection,
checking out data from outside sources,
the works.
It's having a bodyguard for your data ready to intercept a punch before it
even lands.
So not just keeping get guys out,
but actually disarming them at the door, basically.
Can you give us an example how would an NGFW actually stop an attack?
Sure.
Imagine someone clicks a fishing link right.
A normal firewall might just see a website loading.
But an NGFW, it can look inside that web page at the actual code.
It can be like hold on.
That's a malicious script hiding in there
and shut it down for it can do anything.
That's wild.
So you're stopping the attack before it even really starts.
Yeah.
I'm guessing there's like a whole bunch of different firewall types, right?
Absolutely.
You've got your classic network firewalls,
applications, specific ones, even circuit-level gateways.
He turns like adding another layer of armor to your defenses.
Like a digital fortress with walls within walls.
We've got a table by the way in the show notes called Firewall types.
It really breaks down all the different types and what they do.
Definitely worth checking out.
OK, so we've got these firewalls, but it sounds like even the best ones.
You can't just assume you're totally safe, can you?
There's always a way in if someone's determined enough.
Exactly, you're never going to stop every single attack, right?
It's like, yeah, you could build a fortress, but someone might find a way to tunnel
into the walls if they really want to.
So you need more layers, not just the firewall.
What else is there?
You got it.
Think about a house.
You wouldn't just have a lock on the front door.
Right.
Yeah, you probably want an alarm system.
Maybe some security cameras to just in case.
Definitely.
So what are those extra security measures in like this
Fribe security world?
Intrusion detection systems, IDS, and intrusion prevention
systems, IPS.
Think of those as your cameras and your like security guards.
OK, so IDS is watching for anything suspicious like the security cameras.
What kind of things would set off an IDS?
Anything out of the ordinary?
Could be a sudden flood of traffic from a weird location that could be a de-doss attack,
or someone trying to get into files they shouldn't.
That could be data theft about to happen.
So it's like detective work, basically.
Looking for clues that something's wrong.
Yeah.
The IPS comes in, right?
Like the IDS spots something raises the alarm and the IPS is the one that jumps into action.
The IPS is the guard then.
They see the problem and actually do something about it.
Right on, they can block the bad traffic, cut off the connection, whatever it takes to
stop the attack right there.
But that's got to be tricky, right?
What if it blocks something legitimate by mistake?
For sure, you don't want to block real users by accident.
That's why setting it upright is super important.
You got to tell it what's normal and what's not, so we can tell the difference between
a false alarm and a real threat.
And where you put these systems in the network must matter, too, right?
Like I wouldn't just put a security camera anywhere.
Some spots are more important than others.
100% you got to be strategic about it.
Think of it, like, you know how they monitor traffic on the busiest roads?
You want to put your IDSs and IPSs at those key points in the network, where the most important
data is flowing, catch the bad stuff early.
Make sense, those are your high traffic areas.
So we've got the walls, the guards, what else should people know about?
Okay, so we've got our firewalls up, IDS and IPS are watching everything.
It sounds like we're pretty much set, right?
You're getting there, but here's the thing, cybersecurity.
It's not just about having the fanciest tech.
You gotta think like the bad guys, too.
You mean, like, finding those weak spots they're going to target, even with all the defenses?
Right, like, yeah, you lock the front door, but what about that little window in the
back?
This is those little things matter.
So what else do we need to think about?
What are those easy to miss security holes?
Well, you don't just let anyone into your house, right?
You want to control who has access, keep an eye on things.
So it's about more than just keeping things out.
It's about controlling what's allowed in even if it's past the walls.
That's where white listing and black listing come in, right?
Like a guest list, but for your network.
Exactly.
White list means only these things are allowed in period.
Black list is like, if I see this, it's getting blocked.
No questions asked.
Really tightens up control.
And that goes for anything, not just whole computers, right?
Like, what about all the apps on our phones?
Do you even know what those are doing half the time?
Good point.
Most people just hit accept on those permissions without thinking twice.
But that's why listing too in a way, choosing which apps get to use your camera, your microphone.
Right, it's easy to forget how much access we're giving them.
So control access is super important.
What it goes beyond our own devices, right?
What about all this third party services we use?
Absolutely.
We rely on so many other companies now.
Payment processing, cloud storage, all that stuff.
If they're a security's week, it's a problem for us too.
Yeah, like that saying, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
It all has to work together.
Exactly.
That's why you've got regulations like PCIDSS.
They make sure anyone handling your credit card info, they're following strict rules.
Makes sense.
Okay, under a couple more things.
What about sandboxing?
Sounds kind of fun, actually.
It is a cool concept.
Basically, it's a safe space for testing risky stuff.
Like imagine you download a file and you're not sure if it's safe.
Sandbox it.
So it's like a little digital quarantine zone.
Something's bad.
You can't escape and infect everything else.
Smart.
You got it.
And last but not least, honey pots.
This is where it gets sneaky.
Okay, I'm intrigued.
Sneaky in what way.
Imagine setting a trap.
Just to catch, like, a mouse.
But a hacker.
That's a honey pot.
Attempting target looks vulnerable, but it's all controlled.
So you can see how they operate, would tricks they try that kind of thing.
Exactly.
It gives you intel, helps you build better defenses for the real deal.
Oh, it's like a whole spy game.
Okay, so we've covered a lot.
Firewalls, intrusion detection, even AI.
It's a lot to keep track of.
It is, but that's the thing about cyber security.
It's always evolving.
But hopefully this gives everyone a good starting point.
Totally.
So to wrap things up.
And then with all the tools in tech, the biggest thing is awareness, right?
Knowing what's out there and staying informed about the latest threats.
100%.
It's a constant game of cat mouse.
The more you know, the safer you are.
Awesome.
Thanks for breaking it all down for us.
And for everyone listening, thanks for joining our cybersecurity deep dive.