ISC2 CC Network Security Practice Question
Which firewall type reads packet headers and also tracks the state of active connections to make filtering decisions?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Stateful inspection
Stateful inspection firewalls maintain a state table to track connections, allowing return traffic for permitted outbound connections.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Stateful inspection
Why this is correct
Stateful inspection maintains a connection-state table, recording each session's source, destination and port so return traffic is permitted automatically. This satisfies the stem's requirement to track active connections, unlike stateless packet filtering, which evaluates each packet in isolation against static rules alone.
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Packet filtering
Why it's wrong here
Packet filtering examines headers statelessly, evaluating each packet in isolation without tracking connection state, so return traffic must be permitted separately. It tempts because it is the classic firewall baseline, and it would be correct when only static header-based permit or deny rules are required.
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Application proxy
Why it's wrong here
An application proxy forwards requests at the application layer and cannot inspect TCP flags or maintain a connection state table. Stateful inspection is the mechanism that tracks active connections; application proxies suit publishing internal web services to external users.
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NGFW
Why it's wrong here
An NGFW adds application identification, intrusion prevention and TLS inspection on top of stateful filtering, but the question asks for the firewall type defined by header reading plus connection-state tracking. It tempts because NGFWs are stateful, yet stateful inspection alone is the precise answer.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CC exam.