What is a firewall primarily used for in cloud security?

A firewall primarily serves to protect networks by controlling and limiting communications. It does so by analyzing incoming and outgoing traffic and applying predetermined security rules to determine whether to allow or block specific traffic. In the context of cloud security, a firewall is vital for safeguarding sensitive data and resources by preventing unauthorized access to a cloud environment.

This capability is essential, especially given the increasing number of threats targeting cloud infrastructures. By ensuring that only legitimate and authorized communications are allowed, firewalls significantly bolster the security posture of cloud environments. They act as a barrier between trusted internal networks and untrusted external networks, contributing to the overall data integrity and confidentiality that cloud services must maintain.

In contrast, the other options, while related to security practices, do not capture the primary function of a firewall. Monitoring network traffic and ensuring compliance is more aligned with security information and event management (SIEM) systems rather than the core purpose of a firewall. Storing and managing encryption keys relates to key management solutions, and enabling remote access involves VPNs or identity access management tools, rather than a firewall's primary role.