What is the purpose of a DMZ in network security?

A DMZ, or Demilitarized Zone, serves as a critical buffer zone between an internal network and external threats. It is designed to enhance network security by creating a separate segment where publicly accessible services, such as web servers, email servers, and FTP servers, can be placed. This separation helps protect the internal network from external attacks. By placing these services in the DMZ, any potential threats that may arise from external sources (like the internet) are limited in their ability to reach sensitive internal resources.

If attackers compromise a server in the DMZ, they would still face a security barrier before being able to access the internal network, which typically contains more sensitive data and systems. This design helps mitigate risks by controlling traffic in and out of the internal network while allowing specific services to remain accessible to the outside world.

Creating a secure internal network, isolating servers from user access, or reducing bandwidth usage do not accurately describe the primary purpose of a DMZ. The focus of a DMZ is to manage external threats effectively while still providing certain necessary functionalities to the public.