Which of the following is a characteristic of static routing?

The characteristic that best defines static routing is that it requires high maintenance in dynamic environments. Static routing involves manually configuring the routes in a network, which means that if there are any changes in the network topology—such as adding or removing devices—network administrators must update the routes manually. In contrast, dynamic routing protocols automatically adjust to changes in the network. Therefore, in environments where changes are frequent or rapid, relying on static routing can lead to increased workload and potential issues with routing entries not reflecting the current state of the network.

This focus on manual configuration highlights why static routing is less suited for environments characterized by rapid growth or change. While it may initially seem simpler to set up, the ongoing maintenance demands in a dynamic setting can become significant, demonstrating that static routing is not ideal for all scenarios.