What aspect does a firewall at the internet boundary primarily focus on?

A firewall at the internet boundary primarily focuses on monitoring and controlling both incoming and outgoing traffic. This is crucial for establishing a secure network environment, as firewalls act as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks such as the internet.

By inspecting incoming traffic, the firewall can prevent unauthorized access and protect against various threats, such as malware or hacking attempts. On the other hand, managing outgoing traffic is equally important because it can help prevent internal users from accessing malicious sites or sending sensitive information outside the organization.

This dual capability ensures that the firewall provides comprehensive security by allowing or denying traffic based on predefined security rules. As a result, firewalls are essential for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of the network while enabling legitimate communication.

In contrast, focusing solely on either incoming or outgoing traffic would leave the network susceptible to threats from either direction. Additionally, network performance optimization is a separate function that may involve other networking equipment and strategies, rather than being the primary focus of a firewall.