What is the primary function of a firewall?

The primary function of a firewall is to control network traffic. Firewalls act as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, such as the internet. By examining and filtering incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules, a firewall helps to protect the network from unauthorized access, cyber threats, and malicious attacks.

Firewalls can block or allow traffic from specific IP addresses, ports, and protocols, enabling organizations to maintain security while allowing legitimate communication necessary for business operations. This traffic control is essential for safeguarding sensitive data and ensuring that only authorized users and devices can access certain resources within the network.

The other choices do not accurately represent the primary role of a firewall. For instance, accelerating internet speed is not a function of firewalls; their focus is on security rather than performance enhancement. Enlarging memory capacity refers to hardware functions rather than network security, and installing software updates is a task associated with system maintenance and administration, which is unrelated to what firewalls do.