Which setting prevents users from reusing previous passwords?

The setting that prevents users from reusing previous passwords is password history. This function works by maintaining a record of the last several passwords that a user has utilized. When a user attempts to reset their password, the system checks this history to ensure the new password is different from the previously used ones. This helps enhance security by making it more difficult for attackers to gain access to accounts through password guessing or social engineering techniques, as users cannot simply revert back to an old password they have used before.

Using password history effectively encourages users to create unique, stronger passwords, which are less predictable. It's a vital component of comprehensive password management policies that defend against unauthorized access.

In contrast, account lockout is a mechanism that temporarily disables a user account after a certain number of failed login attempts, primarily aimed at preventing brute-force attacks, rather than managing password reuse. Minimum and maximum password ages are determined for enforcing how long a password must be kept before it can be changed (minimum) or how long it can be used before it must be changed (maximum), but they do not directly prevent the reuse of passwords.