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220-1202 Practice Question: A technician is troubleshooting why a smart card…
A technician is troubleshooting why a smart card reader at a secure entrance fails intermittently. Users can sometimes enter, but other times the reader does not respond. What should the technician check first?
⚠ Common exam trap
The 220-1202 exam often tests the principle of 'starting with the simplest and most likely cause' in troubleshooting scenarios, and the trap here is that candidates jump to firmware or software fixes without first verifying the physical layer.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Check the cabling and connections to the reader
Intermittent failures in a smart card reader are most often caused by physical connection issues, such as loose or damaged cabling, rather than software or firmware problems. Checking cabling and connections is the first step in a structured troubleshooting approach because it addresses the most common and easily verifiable cause of intermittent behavior.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Update the smart card reader firmware
Why it's wrong here
Updating the smart card reader firmware is generally not the initial troubleshooting step for intermittent issues. Firmware problems typically manifest as consistent failures, specific error codes, or complete device non-functionality, rather than sporadic connectivity drops. An intermittent problem strongly suggests a physical layer issue, such as a loose connection, rather than a software or firmware bug that would likely cause a more predictable failure pattern.
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Replace the smart cards for all users
Why it's wrong here
Replacing all smart cards for all users is an inefficient and potentially costly troubleshooting step when the problem is localized to a single reader. If multiple users experience intermittent issues with different cards on the same reader, the common point of failure is the reader itself, not the individual cards. Effective troubleshooting dictates isolating the fault to the most probable component before undertaking widespread replacements.
- ✓
Check the cabling and connections to the reader
Why this is correct
Checking the cabling and connections to the reader is the most logical and effective first step for troubleshooting intermittent connectivity issues. Loose or damaged USB cables, network cables (for networked readers), or power connections can cause a device to repeatedly connect and disconnect. Verifying that all physical connections are secure and undamaged often resolves such sporadic problems quickly, aligning with fundamental hardware troubleshooting methodologies.
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Reconfigure the access control software
Why it's wrong here
Reconfiguring the access control software is premature without first ruling out underlying physical hardware issues. Software misconfigurations typically result in consistent access denials or specific error messages, not intermittent hardware-like symptoms. For an intermittent problem, especially one suggesting a physical connection fault, it is crucial to eliminate hardware causes before delving into complex software adjustments, following a systematic troubleshooting approach.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1202 practice question is part of Courseiva's free CompTIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the 220-1202 exam.