Which topology is least likely to provide a failure point in the event of a device malfunction?

The mesh topology is considered the option that is least likely to experience a failure point due to a device malfunction. This is because in a mesh network, each device is interconnected with multiple other devices, allowing for multiple pathways for data to travel. If one device or connection fails, the remaining connections can often still facilitate communication, effectively preventing a single point of failure within the network.

In contrast, bus topology relies on a single central cable (the bus) for all devices. If this central cable fails, the entire network becomes inoperable. Star topology, while it has a central hub connecting devices, can still experience issues if the hub fails, isolating the devices that depend on it. Ring topology connects devices in a circular format, and if one device or connection fails, it can disrupt the entire network as the data can no longer circulate.

Thus, the robustness and fault tolerance of mesh topology make it the most resilient against device malfunctions, as it distributes the risk across multiple connections rather than centralizing it.