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What is a Firewall?
A firewall is a network security device or software that monitors and filters incoming and outgoing traffic based on a defined set of rules. It sits between a trusted internal network and an untrusted external network, such as the internet, deciding what traffic is allowed through.
Firewalls inspect packets against rules covering source and destination IP addresses, ports, and protocols. Traffic that doesn't match an allow rule is dropped or logged.
- Blocks unauthorized inbound connections
- Controls outbound traffic to prevent data leaks
- Logs traffic for auditing and troubleshooting
- Segments networks into separate security zones
Firewalls can run as dedicated hardware appliances, software on a host machine, or as a managed cloud service, and are usually the first line of defense in a layered security setup.
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