The answer is client devices have expired or untrusted certificates. EAP-TLS in WPA2-Enterprise requires mutual certificate-based authentication, meaning both the RADIUS server and the client must present valid, trusted certificates. When client certificates expire or are not trusted by the server, the handshake fails, causing the intermittent connectivity and slow speeds as clients repeatedly attempt reauthentication. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of certificate lifecycle management in enterprise wireless security; a common trap is assuming the issue lies with the server certificate or a simple password mismatch, since EAP-TLS uses certificates, not shared secrets. Remember the key distinction: EAP-TLS is certificate-driven on both ends, so expired client certs break the chain. Memory tip: "TLS = Two-sided trust; if either side's cert is toast, the connection is lost."
220-1202 Wireless Security Protocols Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of wireless security protocols. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A technician is troubleshooting a wireless network where users report intermittent connectivity and slow speeds. The network uses WPA2-Enterprise with EAP-TLS and certificate-based authentication. The technician notices that the RADIUS server logs show frequent certificate validation failures. What is the most likely root cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Client devices have expired or untrusted certificates.
EAP-TLS requires both the server and client to present valid certificates. If the client certificates are expired or not trusted by the RADIUS server, authentication will fail. This causes intermittent disconnects as clients attempt to reauthenticate.
Key principle: Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
The access point's firmware is outdated, causing packet loss.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Firmware issues would affect all traffic, not specifically certificate validation.
✗
The RADIUS server's certificate has expired.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. If the server certificate were expired, all clients would fail authentication, not just some.
✓
Client devices have expired or untrusted certificates.
Why this is correct
Correct. Expired client certificates cause intermittent authentication failures, leading to disconnects and reconnects.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Authentication checks who the user is.
✗
The wireless channel is overlapping with neighboring networks.
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. Channel overlap causes slow speeds and interference, not certificate validation errors.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: authentication is not authorization
Logging in proves the user can authenticate. It does not automatically mean the user is allowed to enter privileged or configuration mode. Watch for AAA authorization, privilege level and command authorization details.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This kind of question is testing the difference between identity and permission. A user may successfully log in to a router because authentication is working, but still fail to enter configuration mode because authorization is missing, misconfigured or mapped to a lower privilege level.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Authentication checks who the user is.
Authorization controls what the user is allowed to do after login.
Privilege levels affect access to EXEC and configuration commands.
AAA, TACACS+ and RADIUS can separate login success from command access.
TExam Day Tips
→Do not assume successful login means full administrative access.
→Look for words such as cannot enter configuration mode, privilege level, authorization or command access.
→Separate login problems from permission problems before choosing the answer.
Key takeaway
Authentication proves identity; authorization controls what that identity can do after login. Both must work for full privileged access.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A network engineer at a university connects two campus buildings via a fibre link. Both routers run OSPF, but no adjacency forms — even though both routers can ping each other. The engineer finds one router is in area 0 and the other in area 1. OSPF adjacency requires matching area numbers, hello/dead timers, and network type. IP reachability alone is not enough.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 220-1202 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Wireless Security Protocols — This question tests Wireless Security Protocols — Authentication checks who the user is..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Client devices have expired or untrusted certificates. — EAP-TLS requires both the server and client to present valid certificates. If the client certificates are expired or not trusted by the RADIUS server, authentication will fail. This causes intermittent disconnects as clients attempt to reauthenticate.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Review Cisco AAA concepts — authentication, authorization, and accounting. Study privilege levels (0–15), command authorization under TACACS+, and how RADIUS differs. Then practise related 220-1202 questions on access control and AAA configuration.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Authentication checks who the user is.
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