Windows Firewall with Advanced Security (WFWAS) is a host-based firewall that blocks incoming and outgoing connections based on its configuration. While typical end-user configuration of Windows Firewall still takes place through the Windows Firewall Control Panel tool, advanced configuration now takes place in a Microsoft Management Control snap-in named Windows Firewall with Advanced Security. The inclusion of this snap-in not only provides an interface for configuring Windows Firewall locally but also for configuring Windows Firewall on remote computers and via Group Policy. Windows Firewall with Advanced Security supports separate profiles for when computers are domain-joined or connected to a private or public network. It also supports the creation of rules for enforcing server and domain isolation policies. Windows Firewall with Advanced Security supports more rules, including Microsoft Active Directory users and groups.
-Windows Firewall with Advanced Security provides your organization with a scalable and tightly-integrated solution that is also simple to use. Connected computers face the following challenges: • Viruses, worms, and denial of service attacks are increasing in complexity, making it more difficult to mitigate the risk of malware and other threats. • Data is a critical asset for almost every employee in most organizations, making it difficult to limit access to only authorized users while still providing ease of access.
-To help address these challenges, Windows Firewall with Advanced Security offers the following benefits: • Reduces the risk of network security threats. Windows Firewall with Advanced Security reduces the attack surface of a computer, providing an additional layer to the defense-in-depth model. • Safeguards sensitive data and intellectual property. With its integration with IPsec, Windows Firewall with Advanced Security provides a simple way to enforce authenticated, end-to-end network communications. It provides scalable, tiered access to trusted network resources, helping to enforce integrity of the data, and optionally helping to protect the confidentiality of the data. • Extends the value of existing investments. Because Windows Firewall with Advanced Security is a host-based firewall it is integrated with Active Directory Domain Services and Group Policy.
The operating system requirements for (WFWAS) are only for Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2008 R2, and Windows Vista.