In what way do firewalls protect against data exfiltration?

Firewalls play a critical role in protecting against data exfiltration by monitoring outgoing traffic and enforcing policies that are designed to prevent unauthorized data transfers. This capability enables the firewall to inspect data packets moving out of the network and determine whether they comply with established security regulations.

When a firewall is configured effectively, it can identify sensitive data that should not leave the organization and restrict access to external servers or users that may pose a threat. By examining the content of outgoing communications, firewalls can detect patterns that suggest data exfiltration attempts, such as large data uploads or the use of unauthorized protocols. This proactive approach limits the risk of sensitive information being transferred without authorization, significantly enhancing the organization's overall security posture.

In contrast, the other options describe behaviors that do not contribute to protecting against data exfiltration. Allowing all outgoing traffic could lead to unrestricted data leakage. Automatically encrypting all outbound data, while beneficial for protecting data integrity and confidentiality, does not prevent unauthorized transfers. Ignoring data transfers that fit predefined criteria does not enhance security and could actually facilitate data loss if those criteria are too permissive.