Information Technology Specialist (ITS) Cybersecurity Practice Exam

Which of the following is a primary purpose of a firewall?

1. To log user activity

2. To monitor network traffic

3. To filter incoming and outgoing traffic

4. To encrypt sensitive data

The correct answer is: To filter incoming and outgoing traffic

The primary purpose of a firewall is to filter incoming and outgoing traffic. Firewalls serve as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, such as the internet. By analyzing and controlling the data packets that are allowed to enter or exit the network, firewalls help ensure that harmful traffic, such as unauthorized access attempts or malware, is blocked. This filtering process is essential for protecting sensitive information and maintaining the security of a network infrastructure. While other options present important functions in the realm of cybersecurity, they do not capture the primary role of a firewall. For example, logging user activity is typically associated with security information and event management (SIEM) systems rather than firewalls specifically. Monitoring network traffic can be a function of a firewall, but it is not its main purpose; there are dedicated tools for that task. Encrypting sensitive data pertains more to data protection techniques rather than the function of a firewall, which focuses on managing traffic flow rather than directly securing the content of that traffic.