Security

Introduction to Cisco ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances

In this article from the Petri IT Knowledgebase, Tom Finnis covers the Cisco ASA 5500 series appliances - what models are available and what they offer you. All the key features like Firewall, SSL, IPSec VPN, Intrusion Prevention (IPS), and Content Security are covered.

To read the full article, take a look at:

Introduction to Cisco ASA 5500 Series Adaptive Security Appliances

Prevent Network Attacks on your Cisco Network including the ping of death

Over at TrainSignalTraining, they recently published towCisco Security articles that I found to be very helpful if you have any remote interest in preventing networks attacks. The articles are:

• How to Prevent Threats and Attacks on Your Cisco Network
• The PING of Death and Other Network Attacks

Cisco IOS How-To Tips and Tricks

I have published over 20 different Cisco IOS tip and trick articles over at the Petri IT Knowledgebase. In these Cisco tips, I cover things like setting up a Cisco switch, VLAN configuration, DDNS, ACLs, and selecting the right router for your CCNA studies.

Of these 20+ Cisco tips, here are 5 of the most popular:

• Cellular Data to your Cisco Router
• Cisco 800 series Routers - the best routers to practice for your CCNA exam and learn the IOS
• Configuring Dynamic DNS (DDNS) in the Cisco IOS
• How to Recover a Lost Password on a Cisco Switch
• How to Setup VLAN Trunking Protocol (VTP) on Cisco Switches

I hope you will check them out!

Free Network Security Scanner from GFI LanGuard

Like free tools? Who doesn’t! GFI, the makers of the very popular network security scanner, are now offering a free version LANguard!

LANguard performs:

• Vulnerability scanning
• Patch Management
• Network Auditing
• And More…

Download the FREE GFI LANguard (5 IP Edition) Here!

Video: How to perform DHCP Snooping from Train Signal

In this sample of the Train Signal Cisco CCNA training course, Chris Bryant offers a demonstration on how to perform DHCP snooping in the Cisco IOS.

Cisco administration 101: Five interface commands you should know

Configuring Cisco routers isn’t hard if you don’t know how to use interface commands. Let’s face it, you have to know commands like no shutdown, ip address, description, bandwidth, and access-group.

In my new article, I discuss all of these commands in detail with configuration examples. Read the full article at: Cisco administration 101: Five interface commands you should know

Take advantage of the Cisco License Manager to keep you organized

Software license compliance is critical in IT Departments today. After all, you don’t want your company to get into legal trouble over mismanagement of licenses, do you? To help you out, Cisco has something to make your life easier.

Did you know that Cisco offers a free device inventory, license inventory, and license/feature deployment software application? Registered Cisco users can download this application for free from Cisco.

Read all about it, learn how it can help you, and where you can download the free Cisco License Manager at my article: Take advantage of the Cisco License Manager to keep you organized

Converting from old to new with the PIX to ASA Migration Tool

In my blog post “Sadly, the PIX Firewall Is Discontinued,” written early in 2008, I said how much I had enjoyed working with the Cisco PIX over the years and how disappointed I was that it was announced by Cisco to be “End of Sale” on January 28, 2008.

Now, you can easily migrate your PIX configurations to ASA configuration for your new devices. Find out how to do it, step by step, in my new articleL Converting from old to new with the PIX to ASA Migration Tool

VIDEO: Cisco CCNA Security Firewall & SDM

Learn how to use the Cisco Security Firewall and SDM in this step by step video, recorded by Chris Bryant, CCIE. This is a great way to prepare for your CCNA. Enjoy the video!

(or click on the video to go and watch it wider and in HD)

What’s your firewall of choice? And Cisco launches new ASA model!

What is your firewall of choice? What firewall do you really use?

Cisco has launched a new addition to their ASA firewall lineup - the new ASA 5580.

However, this new firewall is only for the lucky few that can afford it. You see, the 5580 comes in 3 flavors, the 5580-20, the 5580-20VPN, and the 5580-40. The 5580-20 starts at around $50,000 and the 5580-40 starts around $100,000. So, you see, most of us out there aren’t going to get to have a new 5580 anytime soon (if you have one, let me know because I would like to “demo it”).

At my company, we tried a PIX 515 but it just lacked the full “unified threat management (UTM)” approach. In other words, it didn’t have anti-virus & content filtering and, when compared to other alternatives, it just wasn’t easy to use. We ended up settling on a Fortinet 100 because it does anti-virus, content filtering, and the GUI is so simple to use. The content filtering was the real savings. While a PIX could use a 3rd party content filtering service like websense, that type of service was going to cost us like $25K per year. With the Fortinet and their Fortiguard service, the cost is only a few thousand per year.

Recently for testing, I bought a Cisco ASA5510. While it is an improvement over the PIX, without the proper module, it can’t do the “anti-X” and the content filtering is still an extra charge.

-David
Personal Website: HappyRouter.com
Checkout David’s Video Training:
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