This report discusses defense strategies in data communication and security, focusing on the use of firewalls and antivirus software. It outlines various approaches such as authorizing network users, deploying VLANs for traffic separation, using stateful firewall technology, implementing encryption, and detecting/remediating threats. The report highlights the advantages of firewalls in blocking malicious packets and antivirus software in protecting against viruses and spyware. However, it also addresses disadvantages such as performance degradation due to packet filtering and system slowdowns caused by antivirus software. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of balancing the positive and negative impacts of these strategies to ensure overall network security.