- A
Packet filter firewall
Why wrong: Packet filter only inspects L3/L4 headers.
- B
Next-generation firewall
NGFW combines L7 inspection, SSL decryption, and IPS.
- C
Application proxy firewall
Why wrong: Application proxy inspects application data but may not include SSL decryption and IPS as standard.
- D
Stateful firewall
Why wrong: Stateful firewall tracks connections but does not inspect application data.
Question 904 of 1,000
CISSP Communication and Network Security Practice Question
This CISSP practice question tests your understanding of communication and network security. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which type of firewall is capable of inspecting application-layer data, performing SSL decryption, and integrating intrusion prevention capabilities?
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
✓
Next-generation firewall
A next-generation firewall (NGFW) goes beyond traditional stateful inspection by incorporating deep packet inspection (DPI) of application-layer data, the ability to decrypt and inspect SSL/TLS traffic, and integrated intrusion prevention system (IPS) capabilities. This convergence allows NGFWs to identify and block threats within encrypted sessions and enforce policies based on application identity rather than just ports and protocols.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Packet filter firewall
Why it's wrong here
Packet filter only inspects L3/L4 headers.
- ✓
Next-generation firewall
- ✗
Application proxy firewall
- ✗
Stateful firewall
Why it's wrong here
Stateful firewall tracks connections but does not inspect application data.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse an application proxy firewall with an NGFW, but the key differentiator is that an NGFW integrates SSL decryption and IPS into a single engine, whereas a proxy firewall typically handles only specific application protocols without inline threat prevention.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, an NGFW uses a single-pass parallel processing architecture where packets undergo DPI, SSL/TLS termination (using man-in-the-middle decryption with certificate re-signing), and signature-based IPS inspection in a unified pipeline. For example, when an NGFW intercepts HTTPS traffic, it decrypts the session using a trusted CA certificate, inspects the plaintext HTTP request for malicious patterns (e.g., SQL injection), and then re-encrypts the traffic before forwarding—all while maintaining session state. This capability is critical in modern networks where over 80% of malware now uses encrypted channels.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A developer is choosing between AES-256 (symmetric) and RSA-2048 (asymmetric) for encrypting a large file that will be sent to a partner. Symmetric encryption is fast but requires key exchange; asymmetric is slower but solves the key distribution problem. A hybrid approach — encrypt the file with AES, encrypt the AES key with RSA — is standard. Questions like this test whether you understand when each approach applies.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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Communication and Network Security — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this CISSP question test?
Communication and Network Security — This question tests Communication and Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Next-generation firewall — A next-generation firewall (NGFW) goes beyond traditional stateful inspection by incorporating deep packet inspection (DPI) of application-layer data, the ability to decrypt and inspect SSL/TLS traffic, and integrated intrusion prevention system (IPS) capabilities. This convergence allows NGFWs to identify and block threats within encrypted sessions and enforce policies based on application identity rather than just ports and protocols.
What should I do if I get this CISSP question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This CISSP 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 CISSP exam.
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