If policy changes on an endpoint are not taking effect, what might you check first?

When policy changes on an endpoint are not taking effect, one of the primary checks is whether the base policy is bypassed. In endpoint security management, policies govern how the endpoint behaves, including security configurations and compliance measures. If the base policy has been bypassed, it means that the enforcement of the defined rules is not occurring, which can lead to the policies appearing as if they are not being applied. This situation may arise due to specific user exemptions, other conflicting policies, or administrative overrides that prevent the base policy from being enforced.

It's also important to acknowledge the context of the other options. For instance, if the base policy were corrupted, that could lead to serious functionality issues; however, the current issue hinges on the application of policies rather than their integrity. Checking for network disconnection concerns the endpoint's ability to communicate with the management server, which could prevent policy updates but doesn't directly indicate a bypass situation. Lastly, if the endpoint is not registered, it would be ineffective at receiving any policies at all, rather than not applying updates to a registered endpoint that is already operational. Therefore, confirming whether the base policy is bypassed is a logical step in troubleshooting the issue of ineffective policy application.