Achieving the Highest Level of Security with Firewall and VPN Server Placement

C.

To achieve the highest level of security when rearchitecting a network using a firewall and a VPN server, the cybersecurity analyst should place the VPN server behind the firewall. Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Explanation:

A firewall is a network security device that monitors and filters incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predefined security rules. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) server is a network device that creates a secure, encrypted connection between a remote computer and a private network, such as a company's network.

The purpose of placing a firewall in a network is to control and restrict incoming and outgoing network traffic, while a VPN server is used to provide secure remote access to the network. Therefore, it is necessary to place the VPN server behind the firewall, which means that the VPN server is protected by the firewall.

By placing the VPN server behind the firewall, any incoming traffic to the VPN server must first pass through the firewall's security checks, making it less vulnerable to attacks. Moreover, by keeping the VPN server behind the firewall, an attacker cannot bypass the firewall's security controls and directly access the network.

In contrast, if the VPN server is placed in front of the firewall, any attacker can easily bypass the firewall and directly access the network, compromising its security. If the VPN server is placed parallel to the firewall, it could potentially create a security gap or misconfiguration, resulting in security vulnerabilities.

Therefore, placing the VPN server behind the firewall is the best practice for achieving the highest level of security when rearchitecting a network using a firewall and a VPN server.