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Covad Firewall and VPN Services

Frequently Asked Questions

General questions


Firewall


Site-to-Site VPN


Remote User VPN



What do the Covad Security services include?
Covad provides three types of security offerings:

Managed Firewall service for a single office location provides:

  • A security device that is installed on your company network
  • Firewall functionality on the device
  • 24 x 7 monitoring and management service to ensure your firewall is functioning properly

Firewall and VPN service is designed to support two locations and includes:

  • Two security devices; one for each site
  • Firewall functionality on both devices
  • A site-to-site VPN tunnel between the two locations
  • 24 x 7 monitoring and management of your firewalls and VPN tunnel

Additional sites can be added. Each site will have a security device with firewall functionality, and a site-to-site VPN tunnel to the main hub location.

Remote User Access service includes:

  • Client software for each remote user
  • A VPN tunnel to connect the remote user to the company’s hub location
  • Monitoring and management of all remote user activity
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What's the value of a Managed Security Service?
Our managed security services are provided on a dedicated security device that’s located at your company site; the same device as ones used by hundreds of major banks to provide their network protection.

You have protected Internet access to help ensure the security of your business data.  And you can easily view reports on your Internet activity through a web-based Customer Portal.

Covad provides you with security services that are monitored 24x7.  Your Internet connection is continuously checked and if a problem arises, diagnosis and resolution begin automatically without intervention from you. 

There’s no need to add security experts to your staff, since we handle all the monitoring and management of the service.  Your existing IT staff is freed up to handle other important functions for your business.

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What's the right security solution for my business?
There is no single "right" security solution for all companies. Factors like number of office locations, the need to support traveling or work-from-home employees, the type of applications your company uses for business, and others should all be considered when deciding your security solution. Implementing layers of security is always important. Just as you wouldn't lock the front door and leave the windows open, you need to apply the appropriate security precautions to different areas of your business. Learn more about the solutions Covad offers for single-site and multi-site locations.

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Can I add Firewall and Virtual Private Network (VPN) services to any Covad broadband service?
There are no limitations on the type and speed of broadband access that can utilize the Covad VPN and firewall services. We do not offer firewall and VPN services for consumer/shared-line broadband service. You must also have at least one static IP address available to implement the services. If you need additional IP addresses, you can upgrade your current line. Additionally, your broadband access equipment (CPE) must be Covad-managed. We do not support customer-managed access equipment for the firewall/VPN service.

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Can I purchase the site-to-site VPN service alone? No, Covad does not sell the site-to-site VPN service as a separate offering.

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Can I order the Covad firewall and VPN services for VoIP or wireless access circuits?
No, Covad currently provides Firewall and VPN services only for our wireline data broadband access circuits.

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When will my Security Service be available? How long does it take to setup the Firewall and VPN service?
Your firewall service will be configured as part of your access line installation. The process will take only a few minutes. If you have ordered site-to-site VPN functionality, the service will be set up after both sites are operational. We wait at least 24 hours after the sites are initially active to build the VPN tunnel to make sure there are no IP address changes on your network. The VPN activation usually occurs within 2 business days. When the configuration of your Security Service is complete, you will receive an email from Covad confirming it is active.

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What type of traffic and activity reports are available and how is this data accessed?
By logging into the web-based Customer Portal you can access many reports that show daily, weekly, and monthly traffic activity through the firewall. See our Firewall Reports Summary for more information.

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What does a firewall do for me?
A firewall examines each network packet to determine whether to forward it toward its destination. Firewalls are a good first step at preventing unauthorized users from gaining access to your network resources.

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Can my company make changes to the firewall on our own?
No, the Covad firewall service is a completely managed solution. If you have changes that need to be made to the firewall, you can contact Covad Technical Support or log into the Customer Portal to open a change request. We’ll make all the changes for you and verify the firewall is operating properly.

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How do I make changes to the firewall rules after it is installed?
If you need to add or change the firewall rules, you can contact Covad Technical Support at 720-670-3230 or use the web-based Customer Portal to request the changes.

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Does the Covad firewall support the Macintosh Operating System?
Yes, as long as it is running TCP/IP.

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Will the firewall service stop all hackers?
There is no guaranteed, fool-proof way to stop all hacking techniques.

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How many static IP’s does the customer need to utilize Covad’s security service?
You will need to assign one static IP address to the security device that provides the firewall and/or VPN services.

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Why do I need a VPN service?
Firewalls and VPNs complement each other and are two parts of a layered security policy. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel between locations so your data can’t be viewed or misused as it travels between sites.

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Can the Covad site-to-site VPN service support a connection from a Covad access location to a non-Covad access location?
At the present time Covad is offering site-to-site VPN connections only between locations with Covad broadband services.

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How large is the VPN tunnel?
The VPN tunnel is dynamically allocated, based on the amount of traffic that is being routed between sites vs. how much traffic is being used for Internet access and browsing.

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How much extra overhead is there with a VPN? Do I lose bandwidth capacity?
The overhead in establishing and maintaining the VPN connection is negligible. You will notice no loss in bandwidth capacity.

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What's the difference between a VPN for remote user access and a VPN for site-to-site connectivity?
The remote user VPN gives your employees secure, remote connectivity into your network through any remote Internet connection (dial-up, DSL, cable modem, Wi-Fi) anytime they need to connect. A site-to-site VPN allows two locations to connect securely over an encrypted tunnel that is a permanent connection.

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Will the remote user client work with my PC?
The Covad remote user client software will work with Windows 2000, XP and Vista. You may need to disable other applications that are running on the PC, such as a personal firewall or a router, that can conflict and prevent the VPN client from working properly.

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Is there a minimum required bandwidth for VPN remote user client access?
No, any Internet connection will work, including dial-up.

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