Setting the firewall to block all inbound connections by default and then creating exceptions as needed is a fundamental security practice. This ensures that unauthorized or unexpected inbound traffic is denied, reducing the risk of malicious access or data breaches.

To allow remote desktop connections from within the local network only, the network administrator should modify the default inbound rule for Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) in the Windows Firewall. This involves adjusting the rule to allow connections specifically from the local subnet, ensuring remote desktop access is restricted to internal network users only.

To allow a specific application to communicate over the network, the technician should create a new inbound rule that explicitly allows the application. This rule tells the firewall to let incoming network traffic for this application pass through, ensuring it can receive data from the network as intended.

Port 25 is commonly used for sending email via Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP). If a desktop email client is unable to send email, the technician should ensure that there is an outbound rule in the Windows Firewall allowing traffic through port 25.

In the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security, enabling logging for both inbound and outbound connections in the firewall’s Advanced settings will ensure that all attempts to connect from the system are logged, fulfilling the audit requirement.

When creating or modifying a rule in Windows Firewall, the Scope tab allows the technician to specify which remote IP addresses are allowed or blocked. This is the correct method to ensure that an application can only communicate with a specific remote IP address.

The command firewall.cpl is a direct way to open the Windows Firewall settings from the Run dialog or command prompt. It provides quick access to the firewall’s configuration, allowing a technician to check for any rules that might be blocking the application.

To comply with the organization’s security policy of allowing only a certain web browser internet access, the IT administrator should create an outbound rule that blocks all browsers except the specified one.

To allow the new application to receive data on port 5050, an IT administrator should go to the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security and create a new inbound rule that specifically allows connections on port 5050.

In Windows Firewall, the option “Outbound connections that do not match a rule are blocked” is used to ensure that any outbound traffic from the workstation must meet specific rule criteria before it is allowed. This setting enforces a strict policy that blocks all outbound connections by default unless an exception is explicitly defined, aligning with the company’s IT policy requirements.