Final answer:
The feature in Windows Server 2008 R2 that allows VPN-like connectivity without user initiation is DirectAccess. It automatically establishes a bi-directional connection to the network for remote users.
Step-by-step explanation:
The feature that provides the functionality of a VPN without requiring users to initiate a connection each time they want one, starting from Windows Server 2008 R2, is DirectAccess. DirectAccess allows remote users to securely access internal network resources without needing to establish a traditional VPN connection. As soon as a DirectAccess-enabled device connects to the Internet, it establishes a bi-directional connection to the network, ensuring that users can access resources seamlessly as if they were on the local network.
Other options, such as Remote Desktop Services, Network Access Protection, and Windows Defender Firewall, serve different purposes. Remote Desktop Services allows users to remotely access and use a Windows session. Network Access Protection is a policy enforcement platform that controls access to network resources based on a client computer's identity and compliance with corporate governance policy. Windows Defender Firewall is a software component that prevents unauthorized network traffic from entering or leaving a computer.