Which of the following is a method of preventing unauthorized access?

Employing firewall software is a fundamental method of preventing unauthorized access to networks and systems. Firewalls act as a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external networks, controlling the incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules. This enables organizations to monitor and filter network traffic, thereby protecting against unauthorized users trying to access sensitive data or systems.

Firewalls can be hardware-based, software-based, or a combination of both, and they provide essential protection against various threats, such as malware, intrusion attempts, and other types of cyber attacks. By blocking or allowing specific traffic, firewalls help maintain the integrity and confidentiality of the systems they protect.

In contrast, limiting software functionality might restrict what users can do within an application, but it does not inherently prevent unauthorized access. Increasing software application size is irrelevant to security and does not contribute to access prevention. Lastly, using standard passwords for all systems creates vulnerabilities since predictable passwords can be easily exploited, putting systems at risk rather than enhancing security.