What type of traffic does an ingress filter specifically monitor?

An ingress filter monitors inbound traffic, which refers to the data packets entering a network from external sources. The primary purpose of an ingress filter is to ensure that only legitimate and acceptable traffic is allowed into the network, thereby preventing potential threats such as malicious attacks or unauthorized access. By analyzing the source addresses and protocols of incoming packets, the filter can identify and discard any traffic that does not meet predefined security criteria.

This is crucial for maintaining network integrity and security, as improperly filtered inbound traffic can lead to vulnerabilities that may be exploited by attackers. Ingress filters are particularly important at the network perimeter, where they serve as the first line of defense against potential threats from the internet or other external networks.