#Best small business routers 2016 upgrade#
#Best small business routers 2016 series#

Additionally, for devices that process an ACL in order from top to bottom, a longer and more complicated ACL makes it harder to be sure you've placed new entries in exactly the right place. This approach also makes it hard for people who manage the ACL, because network administrators must determine why a particular entry was added to the ACL, and whether that entry is still needed.

The Internet router now has to process every entry in the ACL when filtering traffic. The problem with this approach is that it creates a massive ACL. I once worked for an organization that would add an ACL entry to the Internet router every time it saw an attempt from outside to do something suspicious, even if that attempt was blocked by the firewall.

Don't add an access control list (ACL) entry for every suspicious IP address.

Here are some principles to keep in mind: Having said that, there are exceptions where traffic/security issues will require some basic blocking on the Internet router. In a larger network with specialized devices, you want to let the Internet router do its primary job, which is to pass traffic. The philosophy of many network administrators is let your routers route. Filtering of outbound traffic is also very important for organizations and will be the subject of a future post. It is also important to note that this post will primarily focus on filtering of inbound traffic. This post will primarily focus on larger, enterprise networks where the Internet router and firewall are broken out into distinct devices, as shown in the figure below. For example, in a small business or home network, the firewalls and routers might be collapsed into one device.

#Best small business routers 2016 series#

In this post, the latest in a series on best practices for network security, I explore best practices for network border protection at the Internet router and firewall.īefore we begin exploring best practices, it is important to note that these recommendations are geared toward large organizations and government agencies and would not likely be appropriate for a home network or very small business network. If your aim is to use a router that is compatible with VPN but also ensures a good general environment to be online, this is one we recommend.When it comes to network traffic, it's important to establish a filtering process that identifies and blocks potential cyberattacks, such as worms spreading ransomware and intruders exploiting vulnerabilities, while permitting the flow of legitimate traffic. VPN services are the ones who can serve as both shields and cloaks to hide your presence online. We would like to emphasize that despite the device being good on its own, the main function of it is being a gateway, not a shield. Overall, the Linksys AC1200 is a capable choice for any purpose, let it be a lone surfer online or a group banding together. Setting things up is an easy process if you also want to include VPN in your network, always search for the setup guide of the company you affiliate yourself with, some minor details vary between organizations.

Regardless of you using a VPN or not, the Linksys AC1200 stands out in terms of wireless security – you have a many options to protect yourself: WPA Personal, WPA Enterprise, WPA2 Personal, WPA2 Enterprise, WPA2 Personal Mixed, WPA2 Enterprise Mixed, RADIUS and WEP are all valid methods. However, the Linksys AC1200 is usable in any situation, meaning that it fits well with a VPN to unblock the restricted online content of entire countries, all while safeguarding your connection and data. The sole problem with a VPN is that since it uses encryptions, it reduces connection speeds. Again, this is where the widespread use of Linksys AC1200 comes in handy.

#Best small business routers 2016 upgrade#

The DD-WRT firmware upgrade enables this router to support VPN connections. If you wish to create a bigger network, the router has a 100v-240v ~50-60Hz power adapter that is compatible around the globe. The Linksys AC1200 has three antennas, which is rather average.

The latter is probably more useful in a business environment rather than recreational use – the other two are perfectly fit for that purpose. There are some rarely seen options to do work with this device apart from the slowly common USB 3.0 and 2.0 ports, you also have an eSATA port to take advantage of. We took a look at how the Linksys AC120 performs in unison with a VPN service for these various uses. Because of its ability to serve a smaller network (2-12 people), the Linksys AC1200 is at its element the most when utilized in bigger households, offices or for video streaming. This particular router – the Linksys AC1200 – is best understood a general-purpose machine.