Although most firewalls are designed to be very user friendly, there are also firewalls that need special treatment. These firewalls usually contain both hardware and software parts. They require initial installation, configuration, and then maintenance. A firewall like the one which was just described is called a managed firewall. It is called managed because although for most of the time it does the job by itself, someone always has to take care of it so that it operates correctly.

Concerning the physical part of the firewall the hardware there are many things that have to be done in order for it to be set-up correctly and operate normally. First of all, research has to be done in order to determine the best firewall system for every occasion. Next, the parameters for the particular situation have to be evaluated, and the hardware/software has to be chosen accordingly. After that is finished, the corporation where you purchase the managed firewall service will come to set it up. This procedure includes the installation of all the required equipment.

Although you might think that the hardware part is finished by now, it is not. Actually, the hardware has to be checked at specific time intervals to make sure that it operates correctly. This includes either remote testing (with test packets) or an actual check of the devices. The company that offers you the service is in charge of making sure that the devices operate correctly at every moment.

With regard to the software part of the firewall, the company that provides the services has to install it and set it up according to your needs. Additionally, the company is responsible to make sure that everything works as it is supposed to. The company has to watch your network and render it immune to external intrusions. If an intrusion is detected, the firewall manager has to stop it and save you from any risk that a possible intrusion might imply.