SP2 Firewall Telecon
Price: £39 (15 Clients) £510 (Unlimited Clients) Web: The SP2 Firewall Telecon is a client over IP Remote Windows SP2 Firewall management application, capable of managing an unlimited amount of client firewalls. The software consists of three basic components – Telecon Server, Console and Client. The server, installed as a service on the administrator or secure computer collects and distributes all firewall policies across a network. The Console, the main working hub of the application, provides a single window from which the administrator can edit, maintain and distribute firewall policies to each client computer on the network. The final piece of the jigsaw, the Telecon client, is installed on each client computer, enabling direct communication between Server and Client. Getting Started Surprisingly installation of the SP2 Firewall Telecon is remarkably easy, taking literally minutes to complete.
Fig 1: To begin using the Firewall Telecon, first input the Server Address On first firing up the application you are presented with a set-up window into which you must input a static server address or DNS name. After inputting the relevant details, and clicking the connect button, the main console window opens. Console Yourself As graphical interfaces go the Console window is crisp, clean and easy to use. Subdivided into three main sections – Network View, Policy list and Profile – and containing three tabbed divisions – Console, Policies and Warnings – the Console is the main hub of activity for this application. Everything the administrator deploys will be orchestrated from this one window and its accompanying tabs.
Fig 2: The Console Window is the main workhorse of the application What’s Your Policy? The policy screen tab contains a list of every policy found or created on the network at the time of roll out. At the bottom of the Policy window are two buttons – Zoom to Console and Show in Console. The Show in Console button gives the administrator full control over how each policy is viewed. For instance, individual policies can be shown or hidden in the console window; also only computers using particular policies can be displayed. It is also possible to check for any warnings set against particular policies. Creating policies using the SP2 Firewall Telecon is simply a matter of taking an existing policy and modifying it to suit your needs. A Policy of Note The SP2 Firewall Telecon policy editor and Microsoft SP2 Firewall have some similarities when it comes to modifying a firewall policy. They can be set as On/Off, No exceptions, or modify firewall exception list. However, the SP2 Firewall Telecon editor goes somewhat further by providing additional functionality in the form of allowing the administrator to modify the firewall without committing the change to a computer; modify standard and domain profiles without modifying network connections; see everything on one screen all at the same time; show full details of default exceptions on the same line; create and store new firewall policies; fully view a firewall policy on any client computer; give the firewall policy a text description; default policies can also be automatically deployed at roll out time and, finally, to improve overall security, specific policies may be locked down thus preventing unauthorised changes. Additionally, once a policy has been created it cannot be deleted! View of Events While SP2 Firewall Telecon does not create a firewall log it does have a form of event viewer. This is viewed from the Warnings tab, and as well as informing the administrator when the console connects to the server, it also gives valuable information on when a firewall policy has been deployed to a client, or when an attempt has been made to change a particular policy on one of the client computers.
Fig 3: Attempted policy changes are notified to the administrator through the warning tab Push Me – Pull Me Before the SP2 Firewall Telecon Client can become completely operational it has to be rolled out to the whole network. Roll out is achieved using one of two methods – the Push method or the Pull method, with the actual roll out option being dependant upon the type of network and what, if any, firewall settings are already in place. The Push method enables the administrator to roll out the Telecon client to an entire domain simply by pressing the roll out button on the main Console. The disadvantage to this kind of roll out, however, is that it cannot be used on Microsoft Workgroups or on target client computers where firewall profiles are already in place and set to no exceptions. Rolling out the Telecon client to say, larger networks using domains, can be achieved in three easy steps. First click the Telecon Console tab, next select a domain in the Network View section, and finally press the Roll Out button. Nothing could be simpler! The Pull method, on the other hand, enables deployment on an infrastructure that already has network wide software deployed. To achieve deployment the share directory option in set-up should first be enabled. After which the ‘TC Install.exe’ file can be executed. This can be done either manually on each client or, alternatively, by using a script. The Pull method works on Microsoft Workgroups and there are no restrictions on existing firewall policy settings. Verdict SP2 Firewall Telecon is a surprisingly easy application to use. Obviously a good knowledge of the workings of the Microsoft Windows Firewall is an advantage, but not necessarily a pre-requisite to using the software. For the administrator needing complete firewall control from one single window, including the ability to lock down client firewalls, the SP2 Firewall Telecon takes some beating. Rating
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