| Computer Science and Software Engineering |  |
WatchGuard Technologies has given two of its latest LiveSecurity firewall systems to the University of Canterbury. The devices will be used by the Computer Science department for training and research by senior students.
The systems cost more than $30,000 to buy commercially, says senior lecturer Ray Hunt, who does research on network security with AT & T in Hong Kong. Mr Hunt will do research on the firewall program, and later provide training for AT & T on the system.
The firewall system consists of a box running a robust operating system, similar in size to a PC base unit. One side plugs into the Internet, and the other to a firm's network.
In between, a company typically places its Internet servers for public access.
The firewall also provides encrypted access to the firm's network from the Internet, allowing a "virtual private network".
This allows authorised users to access the company network, and provides many other uses, such as distributing software.
It is "absolutely essential" for companies to have firewall security to protect their networks, says Mr Hunt. This field is so sensitive that many companies will not even reveal the brand of their firewall security.