What is the function of a firewall in a network?

The function of a firewall in a network primarily revolves around supervising and controlling the flow of data packets entering and leaving a network. By filtering incoming and outgoing traffic, a firewall is able to enforce security policies that mitigate potential threats. This involves inspecting data packets based on defined rules and allowing or blocking them based on criteria like source and destination IP addresses, protocols, and port numbers.

Firewalls serve as a crucial barrier between trusted internal networks and untrusted external networks, such as the internet. They help prevent unauthorized access, blocking malicious traffic, and reducing the risk of data breaches. The effectiveness of a firewall can be enhanced through various configurations, including stateful packet inspection and application-layer filtering, thereby providing a robust layer of security.

In contrast, the other options refer to functions unrelated to what a firewall is designed for. For instance, increasing network speed does not fall under a firewall's responsibilities; in some cases, improper configurations can even lead to reduced speed. Managing IP address assignments is typically handled by DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) servers rather than firewalls. Similarly, enhancing wireless connectivity is a function more aligned with access points or wireless routers, not firewalls. Thus, the specific and critical role of a firewall in filtering traffic distinguishes it as the