Final answer:
To better protect an access layer switch, the intern should set strong passwords, configure user authentication, implement Access Control Lists (ACLs) to restrict access, and enable encrypted management protocols like SSH.
Step-by-step explanation:
To better protect the switch, the network intern should have implemented several security measures that are typically available on network devices. Since the prompt S1_ATC_E2> appeared after the intern simply pressed the Enter key, it indicates that there likely hasn't been any password set for accessing the switch's management interface, or the default credentials are still being used. Here are several steps that could have been taken:
- Set a strong password for accessing the switch. Either the enable password or a stronger secret password should be used.
- Configure user authentication with a local username and password or integrate with an external authentication service like RADIUS or TACACS+.
- Implement Access Control Lists (ACLs) to restrict which IP addresses can remotely access the switch management interface.
- Enable encrypted management protocols like SSH, and disable unencrypted ones like telnet.
These measures would collectively ensure that only authorized personnel can access the switch for configuration or management purposes, reducing the risk of unauthorized access or potential security breaches.