What is the purpose of a firewall in a network?

The purpose of a firewall in a network is fundamentally focused on monitoring traffic and preventing unauthorized access. Firewalls act as a barrier between trusted internal networks and untrusted external networks, such as the Internet. They analyze incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules and policies, allowing or blocking data packets accordingly. By doing so, they help protect sensitive data and maintain the integrity of the network by preventing malicious attacks and unauthorized intrusions. The ability to filter traffic provides an essential layer of security that is crucial for maintaining a secure and reliable network environment. This functionality is at the core of why firewalls are implemented in both personal and enterprise network infrastructures.

Other options present different functionalities that do not align with the primary role of a firewall. Storing backup data securely pertains to data storage solutions, creating a wireless connection relates to networking hardware or wireless access points, and increasing data transfer speed pertains to network optimization techniques or bandwidth management rather than security measures.