Palo Alto Networks Certified Cybersecurity Entry-level Technician (PCCET)Network SecurityMedium
A network security engineer is designing a secure network for a new data center. They want to ensure that all traffic entering or leaving the data center is inspected for malicious content and potential threats, beyond just port and protocol filtering. Which of the following network security technologies would provide this deeper level of inspection?
- AAccess Control List (ACL)
- BStateful Firewall
- CPacket Filtering Firewall
- DNext-Generation Firewall (NGFW)
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)
A Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) offers advanced capabilities beyond traditional firewalls, including deep packet inspection, intrusion prevention, application awareness, and threat intelligence, which are necessary for inspecting malicious content.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. ACLs are used on routers and switches for basic traffic filtering based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols, not for deep content inspection or threat analysis.
- B. A stateful firewall tracks active connections and allows return traffic, but it primarily focuses on port and protocol, not deep content inspection.
- C. A packet filtering firewall operates at the network and transport layers, inspecting headers for basic criteria like source/destination IP/port, but not content.
Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)
A deep-packet inspection firewall that moves beyond port/protocol inspection and blocking to add application-level inspection, intrusion prevention, and intelligence from outside the firewall.
- Integrates multiple security functions into a single platform.
- Provides application awareness and control.
- Includes Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) capabilities.
Memory trick: Firewalls are guards, some just check IDs, others search bags.