Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Mastering Your Certification!

The primary function of the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) is to assign temporary IP address leases along with network configuration parameters to devices on a network. This automated process allows devices to join a network without requiring manual configuration of IP addresses, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.

When a device connects to a network, the DHCP server provides it with a dynamic IP address for a specific duration, known as a lease. This flexibility is particularly beneficial in environments where devices frequently join and leave the network, such as in home networks, corporate environments, or public Wi-Fi hotspots. Additionally, DHCP shares various configurations such as subnet masks, default gateways, and DNS server addresses, simplifying network management.

The other alternatives highlight functions that are not aligned with the core purpose of DHCP. Permanent IP address assignment is typically managed through static IP configurations rather than through dynamic protocols like DHCP. Managing data transfer speeds is more relevant to switch configurations and Quality of Service (QoS) settings rather than DHCP functionality. Lastly, the security of data in transit is commonly handled through encryption protocols, not through DHCP, which solely focuses on IP address management.