Consider firewall placement on a network. There are better placements and some that can actually negate the benefit and purpose of adding a firewall to the network. What advice can you provide that would benefit a cybersecurity analyst if they were tasked with network security.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
The Importance of Firewall Placement in Network Security
In today’s digital landscape, where cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated and prevalent, network security has become a top priority for organizations. One key component of a robust network security strategy is the implementation of a firewall. However, it is crucial to understand that proper firewall placement is just as important as having a firewall itself. In fact, improper placement can negate the benefits of a firewall and leave a network vulnerable to attacks. As a cybersecurity analyst tasked with network security, here is some valuable advice to consider when it comes to firewall placement:
1. Perimeter Placement:
Place the firewall at the network perimeter: The most common and effective placement for a firewall is at the network perimeter, also known as the edge of the network. This position allows the firewall to act as the first line of defense, filtering and monitoring incoming and outgoing traffic between the internal network and the outside world. By implementing a perimeter firewall, you can prevent unauthorized access attempts, filter out malicious content, and enforce security policies.
2. Between Network Segments:
Implement firewalls between network segments: In addition to placing a firewall at the perimeter, it is essential to deploy firewalls between different network segments within an organization. This approach, known as segmentation, helps to contain potential threats by limiting lateral movement within the network. By strategically placing firewalls between segments, you can control and monitor traffic flow between departments, systems, or user groups. This prevents a compromised device or user from easily accessing sensitive resources throughout the entire network.
3. Internal Network Placement:
Consider internal network firewall placement: While perimeter and segmented firewalls are crucial, it is worth considering placing firewalls within the internal network as well. Internal firewalls can add an extra layer of protection by monitoring and filtering traffic between different subnets or VLANs within the organization. This can be particularly useful in large networks or environments with specific compliance requirements. Internal firewalls can help prevent lateral movement of threats within different internal zones and provide an additional level of control and visibility.
4. Virtualized Environments:
Secure virtualized environments with virtual firewalls: As organizations increasingly adopt virtualization technologies, it becomes vital to secure virtualized environments as well. Virtual firewalls are specifically designed to protect virtual machines (VMs) and virtualized networks. These firewalls operate at the hypervisor level, providing granular security controls and visibility into network traffic between VMs. By deploying virtual firewalls, you can ensure the security of your virtualized infrastructure without compromising performance or flexibility.
5. Continuous Monitoring:
Monitor and update firewall configurations: Regardless of where you place your firewalls, it is essential to regularly monitor and update their configurations. Firewall rules should be reviewed periodically to ensure they align with the organization’s security policies and reflect any changes in network architecture or business requirements. Additionally, monitoring firewall logs and generating alerts for suspicious activities can help identify potential threats or policy violations in real-time.
In conclusion, proper firewall placement plays a critical role in securing a network infrastructure effectively. By implementing firewalls at the network perimeter, between network segments, within the internal network, and within virtualized environments, organizations can establish multiple layers of defense against cyber threats. Additionally, continuous monitoring and updating of firewall configurations ensure that security policies remain effective over time. As a cybersecurity analyst tasked with network security, following these guidelines will significantly enhance your ability to protect your organization’s assets and mitigate potential risks.
