What happens to traffic when a Security Gateway is configured in Drop Mode?

When a Security Gateway is configured in Drop Mode, it is designed to block all incoming and outgoing traffic without generating any logging entries for that traffic. This mode is primarily used to ensure that no unauthorized traffic passes through the gateway, effectively providing a high level of security.

In this configuration, regardless of the type of traffic or the nature of the session attempting to pass through the gateway, all packets are simply discarded, leading to a scenario where legitimate and unauthorized traffic alike cannot enter or leave the network. This setting is especially useful during phases of testing or troubleshooting, where a complete halt of data flow is required without the clutter of log entries, allowing network administrators to focus on specific issues without distractions from typical operational logs.

This focus on strict blocking without logging contrasts sharply with other potential configurations, where data packets might be allowed through or logged for analysis.