There are many different types of firewalls designed for different uses and settings. Most firewalls typically fall into one of the categories below. The type of firewall you choose depends on your need for protection and management.

Personal Firewall
A personal firewall is usually installed as a piece of software that protects just one computer. Personal firewalls can also be separate pieces of hardware, or built into other network devices, such as a network router. Personal firewalls have very little management features*.

Small organization firewall
These firewalls are made to protect all the computers in a single location, such as an office. These firewalls can screen all incoming and outgoing network traffic. Firewalls in this category usually have adequate management features*.

Enterprise Firewall
An enterprise firewall is used by large corporations that must protect anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 computers. This type of firewall usually features comprehensive management and reporting tools.

As you begin to decide which type of firewall is for you, keep in mind that some firewalls will work well in multiple settings, however, most firewalls will not. Therefore, it is best to choose a firewall catered to your specific setting.