Episode 53 — Configure Firewalls, WAFs, and Core Security Services
Firewalls and related technologies enforce boundaries between zones, a fundamental competency for SSCP professionals. This episode explains packet-filtering, stateful, and next-generation firewalls, emphasizing rule evaluation order, implicit denies, and policy documentation. You’ll learn how Web Application Firewalls (WAFs) protect against injection, cross-site scripting, and other application-layer threats by analyzing HTTP payloads. We also discuss supporting services like Network Address Translation (NAT), proxy servers, and reverse proxies, showing how each contributes to confidentiality, integrity, and availability when configured correctly.
Practical configuration lessons make these controls tangible. We outline building rule sets that start with deny-all, then add explicit allows based on business requirements, followed by periodic reviews. You’ll examine tuning WAF signatures, implementing SSL/TLS inspection where authorized, and monitoring hit counts to detect anomalies. Troubleshooting coverage includes rule shadowing, asymmetric routing, and logging gaps that obscure policy enforcement. By linking firewall and WAF operations to documented business justifications and evidence—change tickets, rule reviews, and alert histories—you’ll demonstrate the analytical mindset the exam demands for selecting, verifying, and maintaining effective network perimeter controls. Produced by BareMetalCyber.com, where you’ll find more cyber audio courses, books, and information to strengthen your educational path. Also, if you want to stay up to date with the latest news, visit DailyCyber.News for a newsletter you can use, and a daily podcast you can commute with.
