Product Description

With 41% market share, Check Point's Firewall-1™ is the world's leading firewall—and Firewall-1™ skills are in unprecedented demand. For the first time, there's an expert guide to Firewall-1™ administration that also offers authoritative preparation for Check Point's hot new CCSA certification exam. Long-time Firewall-1™ netadmin Steven Dangerfield begins with a thorough review of the fundamentals of network security that's perfect for those who are new to security and firewalls. Dangerfield outlines the key challenges IT professionals face in security private networks and their Internet presences, shows how business applications can all too easily be compromised; identifies today's most serious forms of attack; and introduces the most effective security practices and countermeasures. Next, Dangerfield reviews Firewall-1's™ unique Stateful Inspection Architecture, walks step-by-step through installation in Windows and Solaris environments, and presents in-depth coverage of day-to-day firewall administration using Firewall-1's™ automated toolset. Coverage includes: where to deploy Firewall-1™ for greatest effectiveness; how Firewall-1™ modules interact to maximize security; creating optimal rule bases; authentication; Network Address Translation (NAT); and more. The book contains an extensive collection of lab and operational exercises, as well as a full section of test preparation, covering every exam objective and providing realistic sample questions. For all network managers, network/system administrators, and security professionals working with Check Point Firewall-1™—especially those who are preparing for Check Point's CCSA certification exam.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1048403 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 384 pages

Amazon.co.uk Review
Designed for someone who's getting into network firewalling--and computer security generally--for the first time, Check Point Firewall-1 Administration and CCSA Study Guide does a good job of getting novices up to speed on the state of the art in blocking unauthorised access. Steven Dangerfield's approach to his potentially confusing topic is measured and apparently thought out with care, which means his readers should be able to pick up what they need to know about CheckPoint FireWall-1 in order to pass the Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) exam and do well on the job as a firewall administrator. He steers clear of obscure problems and unusual requirements, but then so does the CCSA exam, and there's something to be said about having a simple, easily understood security policy anyway.

After a brief (and generally common-sensical) introduction to security concepts and strategies, Dangerfield takes on FireWall-1 one module at a time. He begins with the user interface, which he documents with lines and labels in a manner reminiscent of books about office productivity applications. Screen shots are numerous. The later and more important sections--on configuring objects and establishing rules--are more conceptual in style, but equally clear. The author continues to use screen shots where he can, and makes great use of annotated network diagrams to clarify "what can access what" rules. The certification material seems as if it was added as an afterthought--it takes the form of some exercises and practice questions at the back of the book--but it serves the purpose. An annotated answer key would make the questions far more useful, though. --David Wall

Topics covered: After discussion of installation under Windows NT, Solaris, and (minimally) the Nokia IP Network Access Point (NAP), the author explains how to use the various Objects Managers, the Rulebase, and the Network Address Translation (NAT) facility of FireWall-1 to compartmentalise and protect a network. Versions 4.0 and 4.1 are covered.

From the Back Cover

• Discover the complete FireWall-1 administration manual and CCSA prep guide!
• Explore FireWall-1 architecture, installation, and day-to-day management-in detail
• Utilize this complete network security primer for new FireWall-1 administrators
• Master the challenging sample exam questions and lab exercises

The first complete guide to FireWall-1 administration and Check Point's latest certification exam!

Check Point's FireWall-1 is the world's leading firewall—and these skills are in unprecedented demand! This is one of the only expert guides to FireWall-1 administration that also offers authoritative preparation for Check Point's hot new CCSA certification exam. Long-time FireWall-1 netadmin Steven Dangerfield begins with a thorough review of the challenges IT professionals face in securing their private networks and Internet presences. Dangerfield identifies today's most serious forms of attack, then systematically introduces the most effective FireWall-1 security practices and countermeasures. Coverage includes:

• FireWall-1's Stateful Inspection Architecture: maximizing security without compromising performance or scalability
• How and where to deploy FireWall-1 for maximum effectiveness
• Day-to-day firewall administration, security policy generation, and management using FireWall-1's automated tools
• Working with the Network Objects Manager, Services Manager, Resources Manager, Server Manager, Users Manager, and Time Objects Manager
• Simple, modular techniques for building more effective rule bases
• Practical techniques for managing authentication and Network Address Translation (NAT)

Check Point FireWall-1 Administration and CCSA Study Guide contains an extensive collection of lab and operational exercises, plus a thorough test preparation section covering every exam objective and providing realistic sample questions.

Whether you're managing FireWall-1, preparing for your CCSA certification exam, or both, this is the authoritative, comprehensive, practical resource you're searching for.

About the Author

STEVEN DANGERFIELD is a consulting internetwork security analyst currently working with a major U.K. telecommunications and Internet Service Provider. He has been working with FireWall-1 since its introduction and holds a number of industry certifications including Check Point's CCSA.

Customer Reviews

Not a chance to pass the CCSA test
Good introduction to Firewall1 product, but doesn't cover most of the test you will find in the actual tets.