Cisco Secure Firewall Services Module
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Cisco Secure Firewall Services Module (FWSM) Best practices for securing networks with FWSM Ray Blair, CCIE® No. 7050 Arvind Durai, CCIE No. 7016 The Firewall Services Module (FWSM) is a high-performance stateful-inspection firewall that integrates into the Cisco® 6500 switch and 7600 router chassis. The FWSM monitors traffic flows using application inspection engines to provide a strong level of network security. The FWSM defines the security para… More >>
Cisco Secure Firewall Services Module
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This book is effectively the user’s manual for Cisco’s FWSM. I don’t know if the module comes with other documentation, but this text is probably what you should use for an indepth explanation of the product.
Cisco has put a fair amount of functionality into FWSM. Using and controlling this functionality can be done via the network. Naturally, the remote access is mediated by a standard username and password combination. This can be compared with local configured user data stored in the FWSM. Or, in an interesting feature, with user data at an external server. The latter feature reflects a possible data centre usage, where you have several FWSMs deployed, and you want to centralise sysadmin data in one server.
Another key feature is the failover mechanism. Where the firewall has 2 units. These can be set in active/standby or active/active modes. There are 2 FWSM modules, that jointly offer a physical redundancy. The book shows that synchronising these peer modules is straightforward. Obviously this costs more, but the improved reliability should be attractive or even necessary to some data centre sysadmins.
Reviews: 4 / 5
This book contains a lot of typographical errors. I wasn’t sure if the configurations were right sometimes. I would download the configuration guide off Cisco’s web site instead of ordering this book.
Reviews: 1 / 5
The Cisco Press book, Cisco Secure Firewall Services Module (FWSM), written by Ray Blair and Arvind Durai promises the reader that he would be given ‘an in-depth understanding of the FWSM’ particularly ‘for those who design, implement, or maintain the FWSM.’ I would venture to write that this book delivers this and more. Written at a level accessible to a majority of readers, i.e. high school and beyond, this technical narrative helps to facilitate the rapid adoption of a product which would otherwise require a great deal of time and training resources necessary to successfully implement in a production network. To assist in achieving understanding of the complex topics related to network security and the FWSM, the book is replete with easy-to-grasp diagrams and simple to detailed module configuration examples. The text itself is terse though engaging, direct and even humorous in parts which aids in maintaining the reader’s attention and prolonged interest in the difficult subject matter. Concepts are presented in clear and understandable language which also promotes rapid digestion of the material.
Of particular interest to this reviewer was the topic related to security contexts, a concept which prior to reading this manual was difficult to understand much less implement. However, after having read the overview of the product in chapter two followed by the security contexts material resident in chapter five and the configuration chapter seven, I am confidant of the technical knowledge gained to be able to quickly and securely configure this extraordinary feature of the product.
This manual is the perfect desk side companion to the information made available about the Firewall Services Module on the support section of Cisco’s web site. Blair and Durai, both CCIEs, have provided security experts and the newcomer to the field a fine technical work which delivers comprehensive detail of the product and their real world experience designing for and implementing security solutions with the Firewall Services Module. Due to their vast and proven experience in the industry and due to their facile writing style, this reviewer looks forward to more titles written by this team.
Reviews: 4 / 5
Cisco secure firewall services module FWSM
Best practices for securing networks with FWSM.
The authors note that this book is written for the user that has to have an in-depth understanding of their new FWSM and its operation. I absolutely agree that the book is rich in detail and delves deeply into the underpinnings of the new FWSM. If you have a background in PIX or the new ASA you will be right at home learning the nuances of the chassis mount evolution of the product line.
As both authors are CCIE holders they are fully qualified to discuss and contrast the various best practices of firewall and network design as well as the unlimited implementation possibilities of the FWSM. They are kind enough to begin at the beginning and explain the various kinds of firewalls available to the modern day security engineer/designer and how the FWSM fits in with its own unique capabilities.
Everything you would expect to be covered in a cisco press title is of course present and well laid out. But Wait, There’s More! Blair and Durai not only present the basics of the physical characteristics of the device itself but go into how to physically secure the installation of the blade giving common sense but well needed tips on access control to the device rack etc. I’ve seen too many installations where the trusted equipment is racked up in a janitor’s closet or other non-secure space just waiting for an enterprising bad actor to come along and mess with the IT staff if not perform full fledged attacks.
The FWSMs configuration power and flexibility comes in the concept of contexts. Contexts are virtual firewalls implemented within the single physical FWSM device. The FWSM can support up to 250 contexts depending on your license. The authors advise that implementing too many contexts can oversubscribe the firewall and cause performance issues. The context chapter fully describes how to balance resources to provide the greatest possible throughput with the least hardware necessary.
With the full fledged reliance on the internet to perform almost all daily business transactions Availability is of prime importance. The connections to the internet must be available 7X24X365. The FWSM helps to accomplish this goal by the use of high availability pairs. Blair and Durai give an entire chapter to the configuration and testing of Active/Standby and Active/Active configurations. Add the complexity of multiple contexts within the pairs and you’ll be glad you have these guys leading you through the configuration maze. Another full chapter digs deeper into load balancing with multiple FWSMs which could also be pairs, with multiple contexts… You get the idea.
The book would be just fine if it is only intended to be a reference manual. However the authors go beyond the call by providing their years of expertise with network infrastructure examples including every command to implement the various layouts provided. They go on to provide detailed examples of how to use this new infrastructure to provide the services necessary to support a modern network installation. This includes VPN termination, various routing protocols, and even touches on the latest design goal of Regulatory Compliance and how to achieve it at the network level.
As you can tell by now I fully encourage you to acquire this book if you have to have detailed hands-on interaction with the FWSM. It is probably overkill for the occasional user or management. The cisco site has all you’ll need to understand the basics of the FWSM and how it could fit into your organization. But once it has been bought and delivered this book will help you get it up and running and securing your network.
Tim M. Heagarty, CISSP, CISA, GCIA, PCI QSA
Reviews: 4 / 5
This book is a high-level guide for getting started. It isn’t very deep in technical instructions or guidance. It provides a framework for getting started and working with the Firewall Services Module. Unfortunately, there isn’t much printed materials available for purchase. It is satisfactory/sufficient for getting started. Additional research may be required for troubleshooting and for further explanation.
Reviews: 3 / 5