Check Point Certified Security Administrator (CCSA) Practice Exam

Which of the following describes Stateful Inspection?

1. Stateful Inspection looks at headers of packets only.

2. Stateful Inspection looks at both the headers of packets, as well as deeply examining their content.

3. Stateful Inspection does not require a server reply to track a connection's state.

4. Stateful Inspection requires one rule for outgoing traffic only.

The correct answer is: Stateful Inspection looks at both the headers of packets, as well as deeply examining their content.

Stateful Inspection is a firewall architecture that tracks the state of network connections as they traverse through the firewall. It goes beyond merely examining the headers of packets; it also analyzes the packets' connections. This means that it assesses not only the header information but also looks at the entire context of the traffic flow, which includes analyzing how packets relate to each other throughout a session. By retaining information about the state of active connections, Stateful Inspection enables the firewall to make informed decisions about whether to allow or block traffic based on the established state of a session. This capability requires a more complex process than simply inspecting headers, as it involves maintaining a state table that tracks ongoing connections and their statuses. Therefore, the description that includes a deep examination of packet content is accurate, as it illustrates how Stateful Inspection encompasses both header analysis and context tracking for effective traffic management. This holistic approach is crucial for understanding and controlling network traffic effectively, providing a comprehensive view of what is happening in the network.