Bachelor of Health Science Practice Exam 2025 – Complete Prep Guide

A firewall serves as the initial layer of protection to prevent unauthorized, external access to a facility's information network. It acts as a barrier between the trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, filtering incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules. By monitoring and controlling this traffic, firewalls help block malicious access attempts and reduce the risk of data breaches.

While encryption, antivirus software, and secure password policies are all important components of a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy, they address different aspects of security. Encryption secures data by converting it into a coded format, making it unreadable to unauthorized users. Antivirus software protects against malware by detecting and removing malicious programs that could compromise system integrity. Secure password policies enforce good practices for password management, but they do not serve as the frontline defense against direct external attacks like firewalls do. Thus, the firewall is crucial for creating the first line of defense against unauthorized access.