What fundamental step should a network technician take to secure a load balancer against basic threats?

Implementing encryption for all traffic is essential for securing a load balancer against basic threats because it ensures that data transmitted between clients and servers is protected from interception and eavesdropping. By utilizing encryption protocols such as TLS (Transport Layer Security), the integrity and confidentiality of the data are maintained, making it significantly more difficult for attackers to exploit sensitive information during transmission.

While measures like setting up alerts for unauthorized access and using complex passwords are important aspects of a comprehensive security strategy, they focus on specific elements rather than addressing the core function of protecting data in transit. Disabling unnecessary services is a good practice for reducing the attack surface, but it does not directly address the need for securing data while it is being communicated. In contrast, encryption fortifies the overall security posture of the load balancer against a wide range of potential threats, particularly those targeting data during transmission.