Explanation
The technician should escalate the ticket to ensure that the CEO's device is returned as soon as possible1

Explanation
The technician would most likely use the Task Manager tool to safely make this change12 The Task Manager tool can be used to disable applications from starting automatically on Windows 10 The tool that a technician would most likely use to stop an application from automatically starting when a user logs in to a Windows 10 system is the Task Manager. The Task Manager can be used to view and manage processes, including those that are set to automatically start when a user logs in to the system.

Explanation
According to CompTIA A+ Core 2 objectives, a full backup stored off-site provides the greatest protection against data loss in the event of a ransomware attack or other data disaster. By storing the backup in a separate physical location, it is less likely to be affected by the same event that could cause data loss on the original system. Cold storage is a term used for data archiving, which typically refers to a long-term storage solution that is used for retaining data that is infrequently accessed, but still needs to be kept for regulatory or compliance reasons.

Explanation
Processes tab in Task Manager would contain the information a technician would use to identify the cause of this issue. The Processes tab in Task Manager displays all the processes running on the computer, including the CPU and memory usage of each process. The technician can use this tab to identify the process that is causing the hard drive activity light to remain lit and the performance degradation1

Explanation
An equipment lock is a physical security device that attaches a laptop to a fixed object, such as a desk or a table, with a cable and a lock. This can prevent the laptop from being stolen by unauthorized persons.
Encryption, LoJack, multifactor authentication and bollards are other security measures, but they do not physically prevent theft. Verified References: https://www.comptia.org/blog/physical-security
https://www.comptia.org/certifications/a