Network connection profile

Profiles can be used to control the behavior of the ESET Server Security Network access protection for specific network connections. When creating or editing Firewall rules, IDS rules or Brute-force attack protection rules, you can assign it to a specific profile or apply it to all profiles. When a profile is active on a network connection, only the global rules (rules with no profile specified) and the rules assigned to that profile are applied to it. You can easily create multiple profiles with different rules assigned to network connections to alter Firewall behavior.

Network connection profile assignment—This option enables you to choose whether newly discovered network connections are automatically (select Auto from the drop-down menu) assigned a pre-defined or custom profile based on Activators configured in network connection profiles or if you want to be asked (select Ask from the drop-down menu) to Configure network protection and assign a profile manually every time a new network connection is detected.

Network connection profiles—Click Edit to add a new profile or modify an existing one.

The following profiles are predefined and cannot be edited or deleted:

Private—This setting is intended for trusted networks like your home or office network. When using this profile, your computer and any shared files are visible to other users on the network, and system resources are accessible to them. Features like access to shared files, printers, incoming RPC communication, and remote desktop sharing are enabled. We recommend using this setting when connecting to a secure local network. This profile is automatically assigned to a network connection if configured as a Domain or Private network in Windows.

Public—This profile is designed for untrusted networks, such as public Wi-Fi connections. With this setting, files and folders on your system are not shared or visible to other users on the network, and resource sharing is turned off. We advise using this profile when connecting to wireless networks that are available to the public. This profile is automatically assigned to any network connection not configured as a Domain or Private network in Windows.

When your network connection switches between these profiles, you will receive a notification in the bottom right corner of your screen.