What is Network Address Translation (NAT) in Networking? A Ultimate Guide
Updated on Apr 06, 2023 | 8 min read | 6.0k views
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Updated on Apr 06, 2023 | 8 min read | 6.0k views
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NAT Network Address Translation is a networking firewall that enables your IP address to global computers. It’s a firewall that eradicates traffic between you and global devices.
Before transferring your device’s information to the internet, NAT transforms your private IP address to a Public IP address for safe internet interactions. NAT acts as the first security firewall for hackers invading your system.
Thanks to NAT, your IP address will become quite troublesome for these hackers to access. Although NAT is not the best cyber security, it certainly isn’t the worst.
Decode all about this unique process in our comprehensive guide!
There are three types of NAT in networking, they are:
The interconnection between two IP addresses is called Static NAT. Static NATs are useful when a private system needs to be accessed by the internet from outside. Static NATs need the local IP addresses and private area IP addresses to translate the information. This type of NAT is not often used because of its unregistered nature. Communication and translation through this will result in IP addresses not being publicly shared. The security of the Static NAT is considered a bit dangerous as your private IP address will be publicly visible to any and every individual.
A Dynamic NAT changes the device’s IP address whenever a local interaction occurs. It uses a technique called NAT pooling in which it maps a private IP address to a public IP address from a pool of public IP addresses. The pooled public IP addresses may vary as the location and available IP addresses may change. Dynamic NAT is used to translate unregistered IP addresses to smaller registered IP addresses. It connects you to a host of public IP addresses with a few limited registered IP addresses.
Port Address Translation (PAT) is a mechanism that bands together many IP addresses into a singular public IP address. The best example of PAT is home internet routers, many devices are connected to the same network, but each is assigned a different IP address for the sake of discretion. PAT is used in a Local Area Network (LAN) environment to differentiate users accessing the internet. For the public, the IP address of LAN would be the same for everyone, but the internet provided by LAN would assign different IP addresses to every connected host.
Internet Protocol (IP) address is a specific number assigned to your device having a network. These devices use IP addresses to interact with each other over the internet and other platforms. These IP addresses are also used to find the device’s location online.
IP addresses can broadly be classified into the following types: Private, Public, Dynamic and Static.
A Public IP address is an address connected to a network of addresses. All the connected devices to that network will have the same IP addresses. The best example of Public IP addresses is LANs.
A Private IP address is a specific IP address that your networking device has. Every device, like smartphones, computers, tablets, and laptops, with a network, has a different IP address. Just like we humans have names to introduce ourselves, IP addresses are numbers to introduce a device.
Static IP addresses are IP addresses that never change; it always remains constant. The advantage of a Static IP address is that when people connect themselves to you once, they can always find you over the internet. It is also called a fixed or dedicated IP address.
Most devices use Dynamic IP addresses compared to Static IP addresses because of their nature. A Dynamic IP address always changes and never remains the same. When you browse on the internet, a dynamic IP address is provided for you, which changes every time. For the second time, when you browse the internet, you will see that your IP address will be changed.
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NAT in networking is not a security system. But NAT acts as the first security firewall on the device. NAT ensures all incoming and outgoing translations are encrypted and inspected before being sent. NAT changes the public IP addresses to private IP addresses, thus, preventing anyone from accessing your device. NAT also acts as a privacy provider as it hides the work of your internal affairs from external affairs.
Any device can’t just streamline your device in the presence of NAT, as NAT makes it difficult to pinpoint your access points and map your IP address.
The most important fact to know about NAT is it does not provide security of any kind,
Firewalling, antivirus or even intrusion. NAT only provides privacy with your IP address and prevents any public IP address from hacking into your system.
With the question of “What is NAT” answered, there are a few more things to be answered. There are four address types of NATs, they are:
All Inside addresses are usually private addresses. Inside Local Address means that a host is physically present inside the network as viewed through the inside network. Inside Local addresses are non-routable IP addresses.
All Global addresses are usually public addresses. These Inside Global addresses are used for communication with the devices on the public internet. Inside Global addresses are re-routable IP addresses.
Outside Local Addresses are private IP addresses which are non-routable by any means. Outside Local Address means that the host’s actual address is on the other side of the network. But we don’t know this for sure as the IP address can be the actual one or just another translated private address from another private IP address block.
Outside Global Addresses are public IP addresses which are re-routable. Outside Global Addresses are used to communicate with other public IP addresses over the internet.
These were the four types of NAT addresses used for communication between public and private IP addresses.
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Let’s explore some of the benefits obtained from NAT implementations!
While extending various benefits, NAT also has a few disadvantages. Let’s take a look.
NAT is a powerful process to maintain firewall security and assist any organisation in strengthening its network access. With improved privacy and boundary enforcement, NAT has been widely accepted to become a well know security measure.
As the world is advancing to newer technologies and consistent intrusion by malicious traffic, the need for cyber security is increasing too. The best platform to educate yourself on cyber security is upGrad.
Advanced Certificate Programme in Cyber Security is upGrad’s attempt to make learners aware of the growing demand to safeguard digital spaces while working on an expert-led curriculum that can help you take a leap in your career as well.
With topics like cyber security fundamentals, ethical hacking and NAT Network Address Translation, the program targets the audience of IT and Technological professionals with preferably prior knowledge of coding to expand their career in the fields of cyber security.
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