What does the lock and roll versioning method ensure?

The lock and roll versioning method is specifically designed to preserve older versions of application rulesets unchanged. This approach allows organizations to manage and maintain the integrity of existing rules while facilitating the development of new features or updates in a separate version. By locking an older version, it ensures that it remains stable and functional, which is crucial for ongoing operations that rely on that version. This method provides flexibility and safety in managing changes, enabling teams to revert back to a previous version if necessary without losing any historical data or functionality provided by older rulesets.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the purpose of the lock and roll versioning method. Instant implementation of new features might be desirable but is not a defining characteristic of this method. Simplifying the user interface is not related to versioning and instead concerns design and usability. Finally, deleting previous rules to save space runs counter to the core principle of the lock and roll strategy, which emphasizes preservation over deletion.