CompTIA Cloud+ Practice Test

What is the primary function of a firewall in cloud environments?

1. To allocate resources to virtual machines

2. To connect multiple networks

3. To restrict unauthorized access

4. To provide high availability

The correct answer is: To restrict unauthorized access

The primary function of a firewall in cloud environments is to restrict unauthorized access. Firewalls serve as a security barrier that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. In cloud environments, where resources are often shared and can be exposed to external networks, ensuring that only legitimate traffic is allowed is crucial for maintaining the integrity and security of data and applications. By implementing a firewall, organizations can prevent unauthorized users from accessing sensitive information and resources, thus mitigating potential security threats such as data breaches and denial-of-service attacks. Firewalls can also help enforce compliance with regulatory standards by ensuring that sensitive data is only accessed by authorized individuals or systems. In contrast, functions such as allocating resources to virtual machines, connecting multiple networks, and providing high availability, while important in cloud architecture, do not directly relate to the security aspect that a firewall addresses. These functions focus more on the management and operational efficiency of cloud services rather than securing them.