CREST Practitioner Security Analyst (CPSA) Practice 2025 – All-in-One Guide to Mastering Exam Success!

The correct answer identifies Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1 as the operating systems configured for Internet Information Services (IIS) 8.5 defaults. IIS 8.5 was introduced with Windows Server 2012 R2 and provided enhancements and features that leveraged the capabilities of the operating system.

Windows Server 2012 R2 is a natural fit for IIS 8.5 because it was specifically designed to host web applications, making use of the web server's improved performance, better support for modern web protocols, and enhanced management features. Similarly, Windows 8.1 inherited the IIS 8.5 functionalities, allowing developers to create and deploy web applications efficiently on a client operating system that supports the same server technology.

The other options do not accurately reflect the pairing of IIS 8.5 with the respective operating systems. Older versions of Windows Server, such as Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2003, were associated with earlier iterations of IIS, specifically IIS 7.5 and IIS 6.0, respectively. Additionally, client operating systems like Windows 10 do not have IIS 8.5 configured by default, as its web server capabilities are not directly linked to that version. Therefore