What is the primary function of Session Border Controllers?

The primary function of Session Border Controllers (SBCs) is to manage and protect the signaling and media streams involved in voice over IP (VoIP) and multimedia communications. They act as a middle layer at the borders of different networks and are crucial for ensuring secure and efficient communication.

The correct choice pertains to the role of SBCs in maintaining firewall effectiveness while facilitating access. They provide essential functionalities such as traversal of NAT (Network Address Translation) devices, securing media streams, and preserving call integrity between different network types. By maintaining the security posture established by firewalls, SBCs ensure that the network is both accessible for legitimate users and protected against unauthorized access and threats.

The other options reflect functions that are not the primary role of SBCs. Enhancing internet speed is not specific to SBCs; rather, it's about overall network optimization. Encrypting all outgoing messages pertains to information security but is not the main focus of SBCs, as their primary responsibility is more about managing communication sessions rather than encryption alone. Similarly, while monitoring network traffic for viruses is important for network security, it is typically associated with intrusion detection systems (IDS) or antivirus solutions rather than SBCs. Thus, the primary function of SBCs is best captured by their ability to