What is the primary purpose of a firewall in a business network?

What is the primary purpose of a firewall in a business network?

• A. To monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security rules, helping prevent unauthorized access
• B. To block all network access by default
• C. To log every connection attempt without blocking
• D. To monitor outbound traffic only

Answer: (A)

Firewalls exist to enforce security by filtering traffic between networks. They monitor and control both incoming and outgoing data flows according to predefined security rules, allowing legitimate communications while blocking or restricting suspicious or unauthorized access. This rule-based control creates a barrier that helps prevent attackers from reaching internal systems and also stops sensitive data from leaving the network without authorization. While logging attempts is important, the core function is applying policies to permit or deny traffic in both directions, not merely blocking everything or focusing only on outbound traffic.