TSA, Boarder Patrol, and Your Front Door (Firewalls)

     I never really understood what a firewall was or how it worked until taking IS101. I always just thought of it as some nerdy IT lingo. Then I learned that there are two types of firewalls and what they do. I learned that a host firewall comes installed on your device to protect it from malicious attacks from the internet bad guys. I liken this to the deadbolt and peephole of your front door. This is installed on your house as a protective measure to vet and keep the bad guys out. I then learned that the other type of firewall is called a network firewall. This type of firewall is configured by your internet service provider (ISP). I like to think of this type of firewall as TSA at the airport or Boarder Patrol at the boarders of the country. Vetting and providing security for those who want to enter to ensure they have good intentions and are safe to do so. 

    So in short, a network firewall is the first line of defense when you are connected to the internet (TSA and Boarder Patrol). The second line of defense is your host firewall (deadbolt and peephole). Hopefully my explanation and understanding of these firewalls helps others to better understand how these types of firewalls work.

Introduction to Mike

     Hello all who find themselves here on my blog! My name is Mike. I will be turning 34 here in the next couple of months. I am married to my amazing wife Amber and I have a daughter Lyria. I am a U.S. Air Force veteran. I spent 7 years in the military with various trips around the globe to include Korea, Kuwait, Japan, Germany, England, Afghanistan, Qatar, and many of the continental United States of America.

    I spent another 7 years after the military as a government contractor overseeing the construction, maintenance and quality control of 41 different Air Force, Space Force, Army, and Navy military installation fuel systems in Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, California, Alaska, Hawaii, Colorado, Montana, Oregon, and Wyoming. 

    After 14 years of working for the government, I finally wanted to settle down and be able to come home to my family every night. I now manage, maintain and operate a railcar fuel terminal in North Las Vegas for U.S. Energy. I decided to go back to college recently to better myself and set a good example for my daughter and to prove to myself that I can still accomplish great things. I look forward to college, even while working a more than full time job to keep my mind sharp and the thought of the future me and how much I will have grown when I am done with my degree.