Which three descriptions apply to a perimeter firewall? (Choose three.)

A perimeter firewall is a network security device positioned at the boundary, or "perimeter," between an organization's internal, trusted network and an external, untrusted network like the internet. Its primary function is to inspect all traffic entering and leaving the network (north-south traffic) to guard against external threats. It provides foundational network layer protection by filtering traffic based on source, destination, and port, forming the first line of defense for the entire network infrastructure.

B: Power utilization is a hardware specification and is not a defining characteristic of a perimeter firewall's function or placement. C: Securing east-west traffic (traffic between servers within a data center) is the role of an internal or data center firewall, not a perimeter firewall.

1. Palo Alto Networks, "What is a Perimeter Firewall?" (2024). This document defines a perimeter firewall as being "placed at the edge of a private network" to "protect from outside threats" and inspect "north-south (client-to-server) traffic."

2. Palo Alto Networks, "PAN-OS® Administrator's Guide 11.0," Chapter: Get Started with the Firewall, Section: Firewall Overview. This section describes the fundamental role of the firewall in controlling traffic flow at network boundaries.