Routes traffic between IP subnets
Routers are OSI Layer 3 (Network Layer) devices. They connect many different network types (LAN, WAN, copper, fiber).
Switches are OSI Layer 2 (Data Link Layer) devices. They forward traffic based on data link addresses.
Traditional: Filter traffic based on TCP or UDP port numbers.
NGFW: Identify applications traversing a network and manage if they may be allowed on the network.
They can encrypt traffic and have routing functionality.
Intrusion Detection/Prevention System
Monitor network traffic for exploits and detects or blocks them.
Distribute the load between multiple servers, invisible to end users. Provide fault tolerance and redundancy.
Sits between the user and the internet and performs communication on the user's behalf. Does caching, access control, URL filtering, and content scanning.
Network Attached Storage (NAS) A storage device shared across a network. Provides file-level access (need to read and write entire files).
Storage Area Network (SAN) Operates like a local storage device. More efficient because it provides block-level access to files, so that only certain blocks of files need to be updated
OSI Layer 2 device that acts as a bridge, extending a wired network onto a wireless network .
Performs translation between an 802.11 wireless network and an 802.3 ethernet network.
Provides centralized management of access points. Facilitates simple deployment of new access points and performance and security monitoring.