What is the purpose of a firewall in a technology infrastructure?

A firewall serves the essential function of establishing a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, such as the internet. Its primary purpose is to prevent unauthorized access to or from the private network by monitoring incoming and outgoing traffic based on established security rules. This capability is crucial for protecting sensitive data and maintaining the integrity of the network.

The other options do not accurately describe the primary role of a firewall. Speeding up internet connections isn't something a firewall is designed to do. While managing internal network traffic can involve some aspects of firewall functionality, it isn’t its primary purpose, which is focused on security rather than traffic management. Finally, enhancing data storage capabilities does not relate to the firewall’s functionality at all, as firewalls do not influence how data is stored or managed within systems.