Layer 3 and 4 Switches: Devices that operate at both the network (Layer 3) and transport (Layer 4) layers of the OSI model. They combine the fast-switching capabilities of a Layer 2 switch with the routing capabilities of a router (Layer 3) and can also make forwarding decisions based on transport layer information (Layer 4), such as TCP or UDP port numbers. This allows for more granular control of network traffic, which can be beneficial for both network performance and security. For example, Layer 4 switching can be used to help mitigate DoS attacks by limiting traffic to certain ports.
Categories: CC D4: Network Security | CCSP D3: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure Security | CISM D3: Information Security Program | CISSP D4: Communication and Network Security | Security+ D3: Security Architecture | SSCP D6: Network and Communication Security
« Back to Glossary Index