How can firewall policies influence application performance?

Firewall policies can significantly influence application performance by managing and controlling the traffic that flows in and out of a network. When firewall policies limit certain traffic or bandwidth, they can prioritize essential application data while restricting the bandwidth available for non-critical applications or services. This prioritization ensures that vital applications receive the necessary resources and bandwidth to operate efficiently, thereby enhancing their performance.

For example, if a firewall is configured to allow a higher bandwidth allocation for business-critical applications while placing limitations on non-essential services like streaming or file-sharing, it ensures that employees can carry out their work without lag or disruption. This type of traffic management helps in optimizing the overall network performance and ensures a smoother user experience for applications that are crucial to business operations.