What does Network Address Translation (NAT) do?

• A. Assigns IP addresses dynamically
• B. Translates IP addresses between networks
• C. Monitors network traffic
• D. Assigns static IP addresses

Answer: (B)

Network Address Translation (NAT) is a critical function in networking that facilitates the translation of IP addresses between different networks. This typically occurs at a router or firewall, where a private IP address from an internal network is mapped to a public IP address that is used on the internet. This translation allows multiple devices on a local network to share a single public IP address when accessing external networks, helping to conserve available IP addresses and enhance security by hiding internal IP addresses from external entities.

NAT effectively allows for improved privacy and security, as devices within a private network can communicate with external networks without exposing their internal IP addresses. This mechanism is especially useful in environments using IPv4, where the number of available public IP addresses is limited. Through NAT, organizations can maintain internal communications and existing network infrastructures while ensuring that external communications occur through a controlled public IP.

Dynamic IP assignment and static IP assignment refer to different methods of managing IP addresses for devices on a network. Monitoring network traffic involves analyzing and inspecting the data packets that traverse a network, which is unrelated to the function of NAT.