Use Geo-Blocking to Improve Firewall Security

If you have a business that requires you to provide your network security such as Geo-blocking, firewall security, threat mitigation, etc., it’s important because it decreases the risk of cyber attacks or data breaches by limiting access to only those who are within their own geographic location.

Geo-Blocking – Firewalls

Firewalls provide immense potential for taking advantage of geo-blocking to block all traffic from regions identified to be at high risk before it even arrives at your network. If you are renting either a firewall, server, or router, this guide will show you how to geo-block your system for better safety.

What is Geo-Blocking?

Geo-Blocking is a security-based mechanism in which we can filter or limit access to traffic based on their geographical location. So you are basically able to:

• Protect against cyber threats from countries of concern
• Minimize unwanted traffic that clogs bandwidth
• Adhere to regulations mandating data access controls
• Prevent malicious bots from trying to exploit vulnerabilities

Businesses providing firewalls, servers, or routers on rent are also beaming geo-blocking data to enhance cybersecurity. It is not a solution for everything, however, it helps mitigate much of the risk.

Identifying High-Risk Regions

First, you must know which countries or regions pose a security threat before setting geo-filters. This can vary based on:

• Cyber Crime Reports: Nations where most cyber attacks are reported
• Previous Attack Log: Network logs can be checked to spot the repeat attack source
• Industry-Specific Risks: Certain sectors are more susceptible to particular threats from certain areas

High-risk areas may include:

• Countries with a high number of hacking attempts
• Places with weak cybersecurity regulations
• Geos associated with botnet activity

When renting a firewall, see if automated threat intelligence is part of the package to assist in identifying and blocking all such regions as needed.

Configuring Geo-Filters

Now, once you have the regions to block, here is how you can set up geo-blocking on your rented firewall:

1. Access Firewall Settings

Most firewalls for rent provide a management dashboard for configuring the security rules. As for geo-filtering options, log into the admin panel of your firewall.

2. Look for Geo-Blocking or Geo-IP Filtering

Search for configuration options called Geo-IP Blocking or Geo-Filtering. It is known by different names for different brands of firewalls, but the function is the same.

3. Select Countries to Block

To blocklist countries, most firewalls will need:

• Inputting country names manually
• Utilizing predefined lists of high-risk regions

This feature allows you to segment the IP ranges that can be used with your application.

4. Apply Rules and Test

Once blocking rules are set:

• Save the settings
• Perform a test to verify blocked IPs are unable to reach your network
• Verify geo-blocking is successful in network logs

Many rented firewalls will automatically update to reflect current blocklists, but it’s always worth checking settings for a few minutes every four to six months to be sure.

Monitoring & Updating Lists

Blocking regions of IP traffic is not a set-it-and-forget-it solution. New risks from new places evolve cyber threats.

Best Ways to Stay on Top of Geo-Blocking:

• Check logs to see for new attack attempts
• Update block lists when new threats emerge
• Balance security & access – Over-blocking could affect legitimate traffic

If you rent a firewall or router, verify whether it automatically updates threat data to ease this process.

Impact on Performance

Geo-blocking also has impacts on network performance. While this helps cut down on unwanted traffic, it comes with its own set of challenges:

Pros:

• Less traffic load on your firewall and server
• Reduce the source of DDoS from bad known regions
• Improved adherence to security standards

Cons:

• Could prevent valid users from blocked areas
• Additional CPU required for on-the-fly filtering of IPs
• Blocking decisions that are false positives

When renting a firewall, opt for one that is optimized for processing power, so that geo-blocking does not adversely impact performance.

Final Thoughts

Businesses qualified for enhancements in protection – Geo-blocking, cyber security firewall, and threat mitigation. Some of the benefits of utilizing Firewalls to block access to high-risk regions, thereby posing a threat, can further bolster network security while also optimizing efficiency.

In case you are renting a firewall, server, or a router – check to see if geo-surfing functions are supported, making implementation easy. Remain vigilant, regularly update your blocklists, and maintain your network safety.