Which network device monitors incoming and outgoing traffic and decides whether to allow or block...

A firewall is a network device that monitors incoming and outgoing traffic and decides whether to allow or block specific traffic based on a defined set of rules.

Function of a Firewall:

Traffic Monitoring: It continuously monitors all traffic passing through it.

Rule-Based Filtering: It applies predefined security rules to allow or deny traffic.

Protection: It protects networks from unauthorized access and cyber threats.

Comparison with Other Devices:

Switch: A network device that connects devices within a LAN and uses MAC addresses to forward data to the correct destination.

Load Balancer: Distributes network or application traffic across multiple servers to ensure no single server becomes overwhelmed.

Reverse Proxy: A server that sits in front of web servers and forwards client requests to those web servers.

Therefore, a firewall is the correct answer because it specifically monitors and filters network traffic based on security rules.

References:

Cisco Firewalls Overview: Cisco Firewall Products