What must an administrator do before issuing commands on a switch?

An administrator must enter privileged EXEC mode before issuing commands on a switch because this mode provides access to a wider range of commands and configurations necessary for managing the switch. In privileged EXEC mode, an administrator can execute commands that allow for monitoring and configuration changes. This mode is secured and requires proper credentials (username and password) to access, preventing unauthorized users from making changes to the switch's settings.

Entering user EXEC mode allows for basic monitoring and troubleshooting commands but does not provide the full capability needed to configure the switch. Power cycling the switch would disrupt operations, and resetting the configuration to factory settings is not a routine step before issuing commands; it would erase all custom configurations. Therefore, accessing privileged EXEC mode is essential for administrators to effectively manage and configure network devices.