Final answer:
To confirm network protection, the system administrator should monitor network traffic, check firewall settings, and conduct a penetration test.
Step-by-step explanation:
To confirm that external IP addresses cannot collect software versioning from servers on the network, the system administrator should monitor network traffic. By monitoring network traffic, the administrator can analyze the data packets being sent and received and identify any potential unauthorized access attempts or data leakage. This can be done through various network monitoring tools and techniques such as packet sniffing or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS).
In addition, it is also important for the system administrator to regularly check firewall settings. Firewalls act as a barrier between the internal network and the external internet, and they can be configured to block any attempts to access the servers or extract sensitive information.
Conducting a penetration test can also help in verifying the network's security. A penetration test involves simulating real-world attacks to identify vulnerabilities in the network infrastructure. By doing this, the system administrator can determine if any external IP addresses are able to collect software versioning from the servers.