What defines a firewall rule?

• A. A guideline for user access permissions
• B. A set of criteria for network traffic
• C. A protocol for data encryption
• D. A policy for employee behavior

Answer: (B)

A firewall rule is primarily defined as a set of criteria for network traffic. This means that the rule specifies which types of incoming or outgoing traffic are allowed or blocked based on predefined conditions. These conditions can include factors such as source and destination IP addresses, port numbers, and the protocol being used (like TCP or UDP).

By establishing these rules, a firewall can effectively manage and protect network resources by filtering traffic, ensuring that only legitimate communication passes through while stopping potentially harmful or unauthorized access. The criteria set by firewall rules can be tailored to fit the security needs of the organization, making them a fundamental component in network security management.

In contrast, user access permissions and employee behavior policies pertain to organizational compliance and governance rather than network traffic management, while data encryption protocols focus on securing data integrity during transmission, not on controlling access to the network itself.