In network security, what does the term "throughput" refer to?

Throughput in network security specifically refers to the total amount of data that can pass through the firewall during a given period of time. It is a crucial metric for assessing the performance of firewall systems, as it indicates the capacity of the firewall to handle and process data traffic without introducing significant delays or bottlenecks. High throughput means that the firewall can efficiently filter and manage large volumes of data, which is essential for maintaining optimal network performance and ensuring that legitimate traffic is not negatively impacted.

Understanding throughput is important for network administrators as it helps them choose appropriate firewall solutions that can meet the demands of their specific networks, ensuring that both security and performance are maintained. In contrast, other options such as delay, connection handling, and successful packet ratios refer to different aspects of network performance and reliability, but they do not encapsulate the definition of throughput itself.