When configuring security policies, what is a critical action to avoid service interruptions?

Applying policy changes during a maintenance window is crucial to avoid service interruptions because it ensures that changes are implemented when network usage is low, minimizing the risk of disrupting live services. Implementing significant changes to security policies can impact traffic flow, user access, and overall network performance. By scheduling these changes during a designated maintenance window, administrators can closely monitor the network for unforeseen issues and quickly revert changes if necessary, reducing the chance of unintended downtime.

In contrast to this approach, clearing all previous policies may lead to gaps in security and access control, while keeping policies overly open can expose the network to unnecessary risks. Regularly backing up the configuration is essential for recovery but does not inherently prevent service interruptions when changes are made. Therefore, executing policy changes during a maintenance window is the most effective strategy to maintain service reliability.