User guide

Configuring Network Settings
216 Check Point Safe@Office User Guide
Configuring VLANs
Your Safe@Office appliance allows you to partition your network into several virtual LAN
networks (VLANs). A VLAN is a logical network behind the Safe@Office appliance.
Computers in the same VLAN behave as if they were on the same physical network: traffic
flows freely between them, without passing through a firewall. In contrast, traffic between
a VLAN and other networks passes through the firewall and is subject to the security
policy. By default, traffic from a VLAN to any other internal network (including other
VLANs) is blocked. In this way, defining VLANs can increase security and reduce
network congestion.
For example, you can assign each division within your organization to a different VLAN,
regardless of their physical location. The members of a division will be able to
communicate with each other and share resources, and only members who need to
communicate with other divisions will be allowed to do so. Furthermore, you can easily
transfer a member of one division to another division without rewiring your network, by
simply reassigning them to the desired VLAN.