iSACA Cybersecurity Fundamentals Certification Practice Exam

What is the main purpose of a stateful inspection firewall?

1. To analyze the performance of devices

2. To track destination IP addresses and conditions of packets

3. To manage network load and traffic

4. To authenticate users before network access

The correct answer is: To track destination IP addresses and conditions of packets

The main purpose of a stateful inspection firewall is to track destination IP addresses and the state of packets within ongoing connections. Unlike stateless firewalls, which evaluate packets in isolation without considering the state of the connection, stateful inspection maintains a state table that records the state of active connections. This allows the firewall to make more informed decisions about what traffic is allowed or denied, based on the context of the established connections. For instance, when a packet arrives, the stateful inspection firewall checks its headers against this state table, allowing it to permit return traffic from established connections or deny packets that do not fit the expected patterns of communication. This capability significantly enhances security by preventing unauthorized access and ensuring that only legitimate traffic is allowed through the firewall. Other options are not the primary functions of a stateful inspection firewall; they either pertain to different network functions or do not align with the core purpose of maintaining a secure and efficient network environment.