Which option is not a defining characteristic of a Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)?

A Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) is designed to provide more advanced security features compared to traditional firewalls, including deep packet inspection and integrated security services. Among these features, adherence to strict port and protocol enforcement, while relevant in traditional firewalls, is not a defining characteristic of NGFWs.

NGFWs focus on sophisticated traffic analysis and threat prevention, allowing them to inspect traffic at various levels. This includes analyzing the application layer and content of packets, rather than only enforcing rules based on ports and protocols. This means that NGFWs can identify and control applications regardless of the port they use, thus providing a more comprehensive security posture.

In contrast, the other characteristics listed are indeed defining aspects of NGFWs. Low latency packet processing with minimal throughput loss ensures that while security features are applied, network performance is not significantly hindered. Integrated security tools such as intrusion prevention systems (IPS), URL filtering, and application control further enhance the security capabilities of NGFWs by consolidating multiple functions into a single device. Lastly, bidirectional full-stack analysis of packets allows for thorough inspection and understanding of network traffic, which is crucial for identifying complex threats.

Thus, while strict port and protocol enforcement is an important aspect of basic firewalls,