Guide to Firewalls and Network Security [Paperback]

Michael E. Whitman (Author), Herbert J. Mattord (Author), Richard Austin (Author), Greg Holden (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Firewalls are among the best-known security tools in use today, and their critical role in information security continues to grow. However, firewalls are most effective when they are backed by effective security planning, a well-designed security policy, and when they work in concert with anti-virus software, intrusion detection systems, and other tools. This book aims to explore firewalls in the context of these other elements, providing readers with a solid, in-depth introduction to firewalls that focuses on both managerial and technical aspects of security. Coverage includes packet filtering, authentication, proxy servers, encryption, bastion hosts, virtual private networks (VPNs), log file maintenance, and intrusion detection systems. The second edition offers updated content and brand new material, from enhanced coverage of non-firewall subjects like information and network security to an all-new section dedicated to intrusion detection in the context of incident response.

About the Author

Michael E. Whitman, Ph.D., CISSP is a professor of Information Systems in the Computer Science and Information Systems department at Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia. Dr. Whitman is an active researcher in Information Security, Fair and Responsible Use Policies, and Ethical Computing and Information Systems Research Methods. He has published Information Systems Research articles, the Communications of the ACM, Information and Management, the Journal of International Business Studies, and the Journal of Computer Information Systems. He is an active member of the Computer Security Institute, the Information Systems Security Association, Georgia Electronic Commerce Association's Information Security Working Group, the Association for Computing Machinery, and the Association for Information Systems.

Herbert J. Mattord, MBA, CISSP recently completed 24 years of IT industry experience as an application developer, database administrator, project manager, and information security practitioner before joining the faculty at Kennesaw State University. During his career as an IT practitioner, he has been an adjunct professor at Kennesaw State University, Southern Polytechnic State University, Austin Community College, and Southwest Texas State University. He currently teaches courses in Information Security, Data Communications, Local Area Networks, Database Technology, Project Management, and Systems Analysis & Design. He was formerly the Manager of Corporate Information Technology Security at Georgia-Pacific Corporation.

Richard Austin, MS, CISSP, MCSE has over 30 years of experience in the IT industry. Before pursuing a career as an independent consultant, he was focused on technology and processes for successfully protecting the 14PB storage area network infrastructure within the global IT organization of a Fortune 25 company. He teaches undergraduate information security courses as a part-time faculty at Kennesaw State University and is an active member of SNIA's Security Technical Working Group as well as a frequent writer and presenter on storage networking security and digital forensics.

Greg Holden is the author of more than 35 books on Internet- and computer-related topics, including the Web design applications Microsoft FrontPage and Macromedia Dreamweaver. He also does Web development for the design firm NewCor Group. He helped design recruitment literature and course catalogs for the University of Chicago. He lives in Chicago with his two teenage daughters and assorted birds, fish, and other pets.

Product Details

• Paperback: 520 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology; 2 edition (June 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1435420160
• ISBN-13: 978-1435420168
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #100,794 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

  #57 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Certification Central > Security+
  #59 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Security & Encryption > Encryption
  #66 in	Books > Computers & Internet > Business & Culture > Privacy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Lots of theory, July 29, 2010

By	SH - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Guide to Firewalls and Network Security (Paperback)

Got the book for a class. It turns out the instructor wanted us to use the first edition and the college store (which lists what books we should buy) bought this version. The first edition had hands on labs that let you get some practical application and experience. The labs in this book are entirely: do an internet search, look up a term, define it in your own way, read some numbers off a page, or do a mini report. You will basically learn that there are things called firewalls, VPNs, and intrusion detection and all the theory behind them, but won't learn how to use any specific software or learn how they actually do it in the IT industry.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars horrible review questions, January 13, 2009

By	Jericho - See all my reviews

This review is from: Guide to Firewalls and Network Security (Paperback)

I'm forced to learn from this book due to a networking class. I thought it would be a fun class learning about different hacker attacks. I was disappointed with what he gave us to read so far. First the book gives you asinine information about what forces of nature are a threat to networks. I would understand if they listed them, but no they explained what the event was, wasting a page in a half with common knowledge, such as "Flood-An overflowing of water onto land that is normally dry" & "Lighting-An, abrupt, discontinuous natural electric discharge in the atmosphere". The worst though, is the questions at the end in which we are tested on. They hark on odd definitions that many in an online community have assigned to other meanings. One of these cases is when they ask about the differences between vulnerability and a exploit, and a the difference between vulnerability and exposure.

Now, I'm new to the subject so to others it may make sense, but to me they did a poor job of explaining definitions. On the bright side they give corny names to people in their examples like "Harriet Allthumbs" an employee who accidentally deleted the one copy of a critical report. I hope the book gets better as time goes on, but man for a hundred bucks you should look around if you have a choice.

0 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Product exactly as expected, May 25, 2009

By	T. Sullivan (OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Guide to Firewalls and Network Security (Paperback)

I recieved the product quickly after placing the order and it was in perfect condition, cheaper than buying it from the schools bookstore.