You work for a large, multinational corporation whose headquarters is located in Miami, FL. There are a few thousand users located at the headquarters and hosted across various virtual local area networks (VLANs). The human resources (HR) department is also located at the headquarters. The users from the HR department access a server at this location to manage employee information. You want to protect the privacy of the employees, so you have deployed a host-based firewall solution to enhance the level of security. In addition, you will activate the host-based firewall solution on each workstation, and only specific connections will be allowed. After you have completed the task, write a report of 1–2 pages that answers the following questions: What are the benefits and drawbacks of a host-based firewall? How many ports are available in a firewall? What port did you open when you allowed the Remote Desktop application? How does a host-based firewall help to improve the overall security of the environment?

A host-based firewall is a security solution that is installed on individual workstations or servers to monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic. It operates at the host level, meaning it protects the specific device on which it is installed. There are several benefits and drawbacks to using a host-based firewall.

One benefit of a host-based firewall is that it provides an additional layer of security for individual devices. By monitoring network traffic at the host level, it can help prevent unauthorized access and protect against various types of network attacks. It allows administrators to configure specific rules and settings for each device, giving them granular control over the network traffic that is allowed and blocked. This level of customization can be particularly useful in protecting sensitive data, such as the employee information managed by the HR department in this case.

Another benefit is that a host-based firewall can provide protection even when devices are connected to external networks, such as public Wi-Fi hotspots. It can help prevent unauthorized access to the device and block malicious network traffic, reducing the risk of data breaches and other security incidents. This is especially important for mobile devices that are frequently used outside of the corporate network.

However, there are also some drawbacks to using a host-based firewall. One drawback is the potential impact on system performance. Running a firewall software on each device can consume additional system resources, which may slow down the device and affect its overall performance. In environments with older or less powerful devices, this can be a significant concern.

Another drawback is the need for individual configuration and management of each host-based firewall. This can be time-consuming and complex, especially in large organizations with hundreds or thousands of devices. Ensuring consistent and effective firewall rules across all devices can be a challenge, and any misconfigurations or oversights can leave devices vulnerable to security threats.

In terms of the number of ports available in a firewall, it depends on the specific firewall solution being used. Firewalls typically have multiple ports that can be used for different types of network connections, such as Ethernet ports for wired connections and wireless ports for wireless connections. The number of available ports can vary depending on the firewall model and its specifications.

When allowing the Remote Desktop application, the port commonly used is port 3389. This port needs to be opened to allow incoming connections for Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) traffic. By opening this port, users from the HR department can remotely access and manage the server for employee information.

A host-based firewall helps improve the overall security of the environment by providing a defense mechanism at the individual device level. By monitoring and controlling network traffic, it helps prevent unauthorized access, block malicious activities, and safeguard sensitive data. In this scenario, the host-based firewall enhances the privacy of employee information managed by the HR department by adding an extra layer of protection to the server that stores this data. It helps ensure that only authorized connections are allowed, reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access to employee information.