IP reputation checker for firewalls is a feature in the firewall that evaluates an IP address’s trustworthiness and threat level based on a set of criteria. Firewalls that include an IP reputation checker can detect known malware, brute force attacks, and other malicious activity that could be attempting to gain unauthorized access to your systems. An IP reputation checker also protects your servers from being blacklisted by blocking connections from known bad actors.
With the right mix of tools, security protocols, and best practices, you can minimize lasting impact from an IP reputation attack. Continuously monitor critical IP assets with reputation monitoring tools like MultiRBL, BrightCloud, and Cisco Talos. Set alerts for sudden traffic spikes and volume changes that might indicate a botnet or other reputation-related activity. Document your network topology and keep an inventory of all systems tied to public IPs. Evaluate reputation risks when introducing new IP addresses or making infrastructure/vendor changes. Follow email marketing best practices to avoid spammy language and opt-in lists that might negatively affect deliverability.
You can configure an IP Reputation Checker policy to filter incoming and outgoing connections at the edge of your network by applying reputation checks in the firewall’s Local Traffic Manager (LTM). This policy is configured using the IP Reputation checker as a source in an iRule. The iRule above checks the reputation score of an IP address in the X-Forwarded-For header and drops the connection if it matches a bad reputation. Customers using the F5 web application firewall or access policy module can use this reputation categorization via pretty screens.
