Cyber Security Certifications Practice Test

The primary purpose of a firewall in a network is traffic filtering. Firewalls act as a security barrier between internal and external networks, controlling the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. By examining packets of data, a firewall can allow or block traffic based on various criteria such as IP addresses, port numbers, and protocols. This capability is essential for protecting sensitive information and preventing unauthorized access to resources within a network.

In a cybersecurity context, effective traffic filtering helps mitigate threats such as unauthorized access attempts, malware infections, and denial-of-service attacks. Firewalls can also provide logging and monitoring features to keep track of network activity and identify potential security incidents.

Data compression, network routing, and data backup do not relate to the main function of a firewall. Data compression refers to reducing the size of files or data for storage or transmission efficiency, network routing involves directing data packets along the appropriate paths through the network, and data backup focuses on creating copies of data to prevent loss due to failure or data corruption. These functions are important in their own contexts but do not pertain to the core operations of a firewall.