A technician is installing new network equipment in a SOHO and wants to ensure the equipment is secured against external threats on the Internet. Which of the following actions should the technician…

Locking devices in a closet provides physical security but does not protect against external network-based threats from the Internet.

Ensuring all devices are from the same manufacturer might simplify management but does not inherently provide better security against Internet threats and can lead to vendor lock-in.

Changing the default administrative password is the absolute first and most critical step when setting up any new network equipment. Default credentials are well-known and represent a major security vulnerability, allowing easy unauthorized access to the device's configuration and network.

While installing the latest operating system and patches is a crucial step for security, it often follows initial setup and changing default credentials, as unpatched systems with default passwords are still highly vulnerable.