What is one advantage of using CSMA/CD in a network?

Using CSMA/CD, or Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection, provides the advantage of efficiently handling data collisions on a network. In a shared network environment, multiple devices may attempt to transmit data simultaneously, leading to collisions. CSMA/CD helps mitigate the impact of these collisions through its protocol mechanism.

When a device wants to send data, it first listens to the network to check if the channel is clear. If it detects that another device is transmitting, it waits until the channel is free to initiate its transmission. If a collision does occur, each device involved will stop sending data, wait for a random period, and then attempt to resend the data. This method helps to minimize data loss and improve overall network efficiency by ensuring that devices can still communicate effectively, even when collisions happen.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the capabilities of CSMA/CD. There is no guarantee of a dedicated connection for each device, it does not provide encryption benefits, nor does it specifically manage IP addressing. These functions are handled by different aspects of networking and do not pertain to the core functionality of CSMA/CD.