CCNA: Cisco Certified Network Associate — Question 562

What is the role of a firewall in an enterprise network?

Answer options

• A. determines which packets are allowed to cross from unsecured to secured networks
• B. processes unauthorized packets and allows passage to less secure segments of the network
• C. forwards packets based on stateless packet inspection
• D. explicitly denies all packets from entering an administrative domain

Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is A because a firewall's primary function is to manage traffic between secured and unsecured networks by allowing or blocking packets based on defined security rules. Options B and C describe actions that a firewall should not perform, such as allowing unauthorized packets or forwarding based on stateless inspection, while D incorrectly suggests that firewalls deny all packets, which is not their intended role.