What is the primary purpose of DHCP?

Correct answer: Automatically assign IP addresses to devices on a network

Option D is correct because the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) automatically assigns IP addresses, subnet masks, default gateways, and other network configuration parameters to devices when they join a network, eliminating the need for manual configuration. Option A is wrong because encryption of network traffic is handled by protocols such as TLS or IPsec, not DHCP. Option B is wrong because packet filtering is the role of firewalls and access control lists. Option C describes DNS, which resolves human-readable domain names to IP addresses, a completely separate function from IP address assignment.