CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What is a defining characteristic of a next-generation firewall (NGFW) regarding URL filtering?

1. It offers unlimited access without restrictions

2. It integrates URL filtering capabilities to manage traffic

3. It eliminates the need for stateful packet inspection

4. It uses static filtering rules only

The correct answer is: It integrates URL filtering capabilities to manage traffic

A defining characteristic of a next-generation firewall (NGFW) is its integration of URL filtering capabilities to manage traffic. This allows NGFWs to not only filter traffic based on the characteristics of the packets but also to evaluate the content and context of that traffic at a higher level. By incorporating URL filtering, NGFWs can enforce policies that determine which websites users are allowed to visit, providing better control over web traffic and improving security against threats like malware and phishing that often originate from malicious URLs. This capability goes beyond traditional firewall functionality, as it enables organizations to create more nuanced access policies based on user roles, application types, and even specific URLs or categories of websites. Thus, NGFWs serve as a more sophisticated tool for managing network security, allowing for detailed traffic inspection and control. In contrast, the other choices highlight aspects that do not reflect the functionality of NGFWs. Unlimited access without restrictions would be contrary to the purpose of a firewall, which is designed to protect a network. Eliminating the need for stateful packet inspection oversimplifies the role of NGFWs; they still perform stateful packet inspection while adding layers of security. Lastly, the use of static filtering rules is insufficient for NGFWs, as their ability to