Firewall & Network Security
Firewall rule review and clean-up, on site
We have a firewall, but nobody knows what half the rules do or whether they are still needed.
We have a firewall, but nobody knows what half the rules do or whether they are still needed.
Firewalls collect rules over the years. A port was opened for a vendor's remote support, a camera recorder was exposed so someone could check it from home, a temporary test rule was never removed. Each one widens the path into your network. A rule review goes through the configuration line by line, matching every rule to a device that still exists and a reason someone can explain.
What the technician does
- Export and back up the current firewall configuration
- Trace each rule, port forward and VPN to a device and a business reason
- Remove or tighten unused rules and record what remains
Bring any old IT invoices or notes - they often explain why a rule was added.
About firewall rule review and clean-up
Anything without an owner is disabled rather than deleted first, so it can be restored if something breaks. We tighten broad rules to specific addresses and ports, move remote access behind the VPN where possible, and check admin access is limited to the inside network. You receive a rule sheet listing what remains, what each rule allows and why it is there.
What usually causes it
- Rules added for one-off vendor support and never removed
- Several IT providers have changed the firewall over the years
- Camera recorders or servers exposed directly to the internet
- A security questionnaire from an insurer or client asking about the firewall
Before we arrive
- Admin logins for the current router or firewall, if you have them
- Your internet provider's account details and connection type
- A list of anything that must be reachable from outside, such as a camera recorder or accounting server
- Names of staff who work remotely and the devices they use
What a visit looks like
When you book firewall rule review and clean-up, you tell us what's going on and we reply with a time that suits you and a price. Nothing starts until you're happy with both.
On the day, the technician arrives, looks at the problem in person and confirms the plan with you before starting. If something turns out different from what was expected - a part is needed, or the cause is somewhere else - we stop and agree the change with you first.
When the work is done we test it with you, show you what was changed, and leave the area tidy. For business jobs we note what we did, so there is a record for whoever looks after your IT next.
Pricing
Each firewall rule review and clean-up job is priced before work starts. The price depends on what's involved - the size of the site, the equipment, and whether parts are needed - so the quickest way to a number is to tell us about the job on the booking form.
There is no contract and no monthly fee. You book the job you need and pay for that job.
Firewall rule review and clean-up: questions
Will removing rules break anything?
Unused rules are disabled first, not deleted, and we test the services you rely on afterwards. If something stops working, the rule can be re-enabled straight away while we find a safer way to provide that access.
Which firewalls can you review?
Most business firewalls, including Fortinet FortiGate, Ubiquiti UniFi, DrayTek Vigor, SonicWall and Sophos. We need admin access, or physical access to reset it if the password has been lost.
Do you do firewall rule review and clean-up on site?
Yes. We come to businesses and homes across Auckland and Hamilton and do the work where the equipment is.
How much does firewall rule review and clean-up cost?
It depends on what's involved. Tell us about the job on the form and we'll confirm the price before any work starts.