What is the primary purpose of a firewall?

The primary purpose of a firewall is to protect the network by controlling traffic. This security system acts as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, such as the internet. Firewalls monitor and filter incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules, thereby helping to prevent unauthorized access, attacks, and data breaches. By allowing or blocking data packets, firewalls ensure that only legitimate traffic enters or exits the network, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of networked systems.

In this context, it’s important to understand that firewalls do not assign IP addresses, provide data bandwidth, or translate addresses. These functions are handled by other networking components and protocols. Firewalls focus specifically on traffic management and security, making them a critical component of any network security strategy.