Which of the following describes the Cisco Firewall Services Module (FWSM)?

The Cisco Firewall Services Module (FWSM) is best described as an integrated firewall module for the 6500 series switches. This integration allows the FWSM to extend firewall capabilities directly into the switch platform, enabling high-performance security within the existing switch environment. By being part of the switch hardware, the FWSM can leverage the switch's forwarding capabilities, ensuring efficient processing of the firewall rules and policies without introducing significant latency.

Additionally, the FWSM provides advanced security features such as stateful inspection, secure access control, and support for virtual firewalls, all of which are essential for modern network security. This integration helps organizations manage their security posture without the complexity of deploying separate appliances, thus simplifying network architecture and management.

The other potential answers describe either separate solutions (like a software firewall or a standalone appliance) or insufficient capabilities (such as basic packet filtering), which do not reflect the advanced functionality and integration of the FWSM within Cisco's architecture.