A user notices their company laptop receives an IP address via DHCP, but a personal laptop does not. What is the MOST likely cause?

The scenario describes a situation where a company laptop is successfully obtaining an IP address through DHCP while a personal laptop is not. The most plausible explanation for this discrepancy is related to 802.1X port security.

802.1X is a network access control protocol that enhances security by requiring devices to authenticate themselves before being granted access to the network. In many corporate environments, only devices that are specifically authorized by the organization can connect to the network. If the personal laptop is not recognized or authorized through this security mechanism, it would be denied DHCP services, resulting in the inability to obtain an IP address.

The other options, while they may seem plausible, are less likely to be the primary cause in this context. For instance, an unsupported operating system could potentially prevent networking capabilities, but most modern operating systems support DHCP. A network cable being only Cat 5e would not typically be an issue, as it is generally sufficient for standard networking needs. Lastly, if port 53 were closed, it would affect DNS resolution, not the DHCP process itself, which is handled through different ports.