Since the issue is with the passwords being easy to guess, the solution would be one that addresses password complexity (and not password history or age necessarily). Increasing the minimum length of the password and introducing a special character would be the best options for this.

Branch protection requirements are related to the version control and development process within the SDLC, ensuring that code changes are reviewed, tested, and approved before being merged into main branches. This helps maintain code quality and security throughout the development process.
Penetration testing is usually conducted as part of the testing phase or after deployment to identify vulnerabilities and security weaknesses. It is a separate process from the core stages of the SDLC but is an important aspect of ensuring the security and robustness of the application once development is completed.

Hashing is the process of converting plaintext passwords into a fixed-length, irreversible string using a mathematical algorithm (hash function). This makes each password unique based on its content, and even a small change in the password will produce a different hash. The primary purpose is to ensure that the actual passwords are not stored directly and cannot be easily recovered from the hash, even if the hash is compromised.
Reference:
CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Official Study Guide, Domain 1.3, "Hashing ensures that plaintext passwords are not stored directly. Hash functions use mathematical algorithms to produce unique, fixed-length output for each unique input." Exam Objectives 1.3: "Explain the importance of cryptographic concepts."

The security analyst is creating a "secure configuration guide," which is a set of instructions or guidelines used to configure devices securely before deployment. This guide ensures that the devices are set up according to best practices to minimize vulnerabilities and protect against potential security threats.
References =
* CompTIA Security+ SY0-701 Course Content: Domain 03 Security Architecture.
* CompTIA Security+ SY0-601 Study Guide: Chapter on System Hardening and Secure Configuration.

Brute force is a type of attack that tries to guess the password or other credentials of a user account by using a large number of possible combinations. An attacker can use automated tools or scripts to perform a brute force attack and gain unauthorized access to the account. The domain activity logs show that the user ismith has failed to log in 10 times in a row within a short period of time, which is a strong indicator of a brute force attack. The logs also show that the source IP address of the failed logins is different from the usual IP address of ismith, which suggests that the attacker is using a different device or location to launch the attack. The security analyst should take immediate action to block the attacker's IP address, reset ismith's password, and notify ismith of the incident. References = CompTIA Security+ Study Guide with over 500 Practice Test Questions: Exam SY0-701, 9th Edition, Chapter 1, page 14. CompTIA Security+ (SY0-701) Certification Exam Objectives, Domain 1.1, page 2. Threat Actors and Attributes - SY0-601 CompTIA Security+ : 1.1