If a systems administrator cannot connect to newly deployed VMs using network credentials but can with local accounts, what is the MOST likely issue?

The correct answer highlights that a time synchronization issue is the most likely cause of the problem with connecting to newly deployed VMs using network credentials while local accounts work fine. In many environments, especially those integrated with Active Directory or other directory services, time synchronization is critical for authentication processes.

When VMs are not synchronized with the time of the domain controller, Kerberos authentication, which is commonly used for network logins, may fail. Kerberos relies on both the client and server clocks being closely aligned—typically within a few minutes—so if the VMs are out of sync time-wise, it will lead to authentication errors for network credentials, while local accounts may still work since they do not rely on time-stamped tickets issued by directory services.

This context helps clarify that issues like licensing or outages in directory services, while potentially problematic in their own right, are not directly linked to the scenario described here. The key factor is the functioning of the authentication protocol that relies on proper time settings across the network.