Security and Routing Roles at the Network Edge

Firewalls such as the Cisco ASA can perform routing, and can participate in dynamic routing protocols including BGP, OSPF, and EIGRP. Even so, in larger networks it is often advantageous to separate firewall and router roles. This division benefits resource sharing, device specialization, redundancy, and overall performance.

Firewalls focus on security, whereas routers specialize in efficient data routing. Separating these functions enhances network efficiency and reliability, especially in mission-critical environments.