Which typical function does a firewall NOT perform?

A firewall primarily functions as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, focusing on controlling traffic based on predetermined security rules. Monitoring incoming traffic is essential for identifying potential security threats, and filtering out malicious activity is a core duty of a firewall to prevent harmful packets from entering the network. Furthermore, restricting unauthorized access is another key function, as firewalls are designed to block unauthorized users or systems from gaining access to sensitive data or resources.

Providing wireless access, however, is not a typical function of a firewall. While firewalls can be part of a wireless access solution, their role is to manage and control traffic rather than to serve as an access point for wireless connectivity. Wireless access functionality falls under the domain of wireless access points or routers, which create and manage the wireless network itself. Therefore, the correct answer highlights a distinction in the primary functions of firewalls compared to network devices responsible for wireless access.