Application layer filtering inspects traffic at Layer to identify applications regardless of port. Many apps use non-standard ports or share common ports like and .
With application awareness, you can:
- Block Facebook while allowing LinkedIn
- Permit Zoom but deny unauthorized video apps
- Allow Dropbox for specific users only
The firewall examines packet payloads, protocol behaviors, and traffic patterns to identify applications accurately. This gives you granular control over what applications run on your network.