Which of the following is a characteristic of hardware firewalls?

A hardware firewall is primarily designed to serve as a protective barrier for an entire network rather than a single device. This type of firewall is typically an external device that sits between the network and the outside world, managing incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules. By being positioned at the network's perimeter, hardware firewalls can effectively monitor and control all data moving in and out, protecting multiple devices on the network simultaneously.

This characteristic differs from software firewalls, which are installed on individual computers and can only provide protection for that specific device. Additionally, hardware firewalls do not require the same frequent updates by the user as software versions often do, since they usually come with built-in security functions that can be updated less frequently as part of their operation. They also typically come at a cost, which is usually not free; many hardware firewalls are specialized products that require investment for effective performance and management.