The ACM's Special Interest Group on Security, Audit, and Control (SIGSAC) is sponsoring this workshop. Pre-registration is requested although there is no charge for registration for this workshop as it is independent from the Conference. Please note that attendance at this session does not entitle you to attendance at any ACSAC sessions nor is lunch provided as part of this session.

In recent years the number of computers, including residential systems, connected to the Internet has increased causing attention to be placed on several security issues. One issue is how to protect the computer systems against hackers now that many are connected to the Internet via dial up or dedicated connections. Many personal home machines are now connected to the Internet via low speed modem, cable modem or DSL. Many of these same computers also connect back to corporate networks, which may give intruders a pathway to otherwise protected resources. One solution is to protect the home machine using a personal firewall. Personal firewalls typically consist of both software and hardware (appliance) implemented firewalls.

The security community has taken a greater interest in firewall technology from personal to enterprise firewalls during the past few years as the technology has become easier to implement and more capable in the functionality that it provides. Firewall technology is viewed by the security community as a method for providing a secure barrier between the hostile Internet and the local computer systems.

This workshop will focus on the relationship between firewalls and security, how the technology is being utilized in security solutions today, and how the technology itself is secured. The emphasis will be placed on personal firewalls and appliances with any remaining time used to discuss enterprise firewalls. Presentations will draw upon experiences with the implementation, deployment, and management of systems which are utilizing firewall technology.

Previous participants have agreed that past workshops have provided a useful and exciting forum for members of the standards and software development worlds to exchange ideas, opinions, and concerns. Due to community interest in firewall technologies, this year's workshop should generate much discussion.

The ACM's Special Interest Group on Security, Audit, and Control (SIGSAC) is sponsoring this workshop. Preregistration is requested although there is no charge for workshop registration. Position papers are encouraged and will be published in the SIGSAC Review. To register, contact Harvey Rubinovitz, Workshop Chair, The MITRE Corporation, M/S S145, 202 Burlington Road, Bedford, Massachusetts 01730, (781) 271-3076, hhr@mitre.org.