June 2002

Scaling Firewalls for a View to Network Security

Do you know what a firewall is? Does your firm need a firewall? How about your audit clients? If a client’s technology consultant tells you that the company has a firewall, how can you determine if it really does?

A firewall is a device that consists of hardware and software designed to control access to and from external and internal networks. Appropriate firewalls that are properly configured can reduce the possibility of outsiders hacking into your network as well as prevent your employees from visiting prohibited Internet sites.

Through attending the upcoming New York State Society of CPAs Emerging Technologies Committee continuing professional education (CPE) presentation, you will learn about such security measures as demilitarized zones (DMZs), packet filtering routers, proxy servers, natural address translation (NAT) and stateful inspection, all in plain, comprehensible English. You also will learn whether you or your audit clients need a firewall and what to look for when shopping for one.

This presentation is designed for CPAs who want to learn the basic terminology and features of firewalls, as well as their pros and cons. When you leave this presentation you will have the knowledge you need to discuss firewalls with your clients.

Date:	July 9, 2002
Time:	8:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m.: registration, networking, continental breakfast; 9:00 a.m.-9:50 a.m.: CPE session.
Presenter:	Ford J. Levy, CPA, Maxwell Shmerler & Co.
Location:	NYSSCPA Headquarters 530 Fifth Avenue Fifth Floor New York City

About the Presenter

Ford J. Levy, BSEE, CPA, MBA, is a partner in the firm Maxwell Shmerler & Co., in White Plains, N.Y. He provides a variety of technical and business solutions to his clients, including network design and administration, website design and computer software consulting and installation.

Before becoming a CPA, Mr. Levy worked as an electrical engineer on a number of high-profile defense projects, including the electronic design for the F-16 aircraft and software development for the Seawolf submarine. He is a graduate of the Moore School of Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and of Fordham University. Mr. Levy can be reached at flevy@msco-cpa.com.

Additional Information

Emerging Technologies Committee CPE presentations are free to NYSSCPA members and $15.00 for nonmembers to qualify for one hour of CPE credit. At the session you will get the chance to network with the profession’s and the industry’s IT leaders. A free continental breakfast will be provided by J.H. Cohn LLP.

Advance registration is recommended because seating is limited.

For presentation information, contact Gary Carpenter at (315) 487-4567 or gcarpenter-cit@worldnet.att.net or Bruce H. Nearon at (973) 403-6955 or bnearon@jhcohn.com.

To register, visit the Society’s website at www.nysscpa.org or call (800) 537-3635.

Bruce H. Nearon is chairman of the NYSSCPA’s Emerging Technologies Committee and director of IT security audit for J.H. Cohn LLP, in Roseland, N.J.