What is the primary benefit of using a firewall?

The primary benefit of using a firewall is that it filters and monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic. Firewalls serve as a critical security barrier between an internal network and external entities, such as the internet. By configuring rules within the firewall, organizations can allow or block specific traffic based on criteria such as IP addresses, protocols, and port numbers. This capability helps to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information and systems, mitigate potential cyber threats, and enforce corporate policies regarding network usage.

While encryption of outgoing data, data storage security, and system performance enhancement are important aspects of network security and system management, they are not the primary functions of a firewall. Firewalls do not inherently encrypt traffic; their main role is to act as a control point for network traffic. Similarly, while they may indirectly contribute to better performance by blocking unwanted traffic, their main focus remains on monitoring and filtering data to ensure a secure network environment.