What type of service does the DHCP protocol enable on a network?

The DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is responsible for dynamically assigning IP addresses to devices on a network. This service simplifies the process of managing IP addresses within a network by automatically providing devices with the necessary configuration parameters, such as their unique IP address, subnet mask, default gateway, and DNS server information.

When a device connects to a network, rather than requiring manual configuration of its network settings, DHCP allows for this process to be automated. The DHCP server maintains a pool of various IP addresses and assigns them to client devices on an as-needed basis. This efficiency is particularly beneficial in environments where devices frequently connect and disconnect from the network, as it ensures that IP addresses are utilized effectively and reduces administrative overhead.

For the other choices, network tunneling refers to a method of encapsulating data packets within other packets, which is not something that DHCP does. Traffic load balancing involves distributing workloads across multiple resources, which is unrelated to the primary function of DHCP. Ensuring secure communication is typically managed by protocols focused on encryption and authentication, rather than the address assignment tasks addressed by DHCP.