What is the significance of implementing a captive portal?

Implementing a captive portal is significant because it serves as a gateway for guest access to a network while simultaneously presenting terms and conditions that users must accept before gaining full internet access. This process not only enables network administrators to manage user access effectively but also helps ensure compliance with legal and organizational policies. By requiring users to acknowledge the terms and conditions, it provides a layer of accountability and can help protect the network from misuse.

While the other options touch on important aspects of network management, they do not directly relate to the primary function of a captive portal. For instance, improving signal strength pertains to the physical aspects of network performance rather than user access control. Monitoring network traffic focuses on security and operational efficiency, and increasing data encryption deals with securing communications, neither of which are the main roles of a captive portal. Thus, the correct choice highlights the essential function of a captive portal in managing guest access in a user-friendly manner.