easyMultiple Choice
220-1202 Practice Question: That their laptop was stolen from their desk…
A user reports that their laptop was stolen from their desk overnight. The security team reviews badge logs and finds no after-hours access to the floor. What physical security control should be implemented to prevent this from recurring?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the distinction between physical security controls (preventing theft/damage) and logical/data security controls (preventing unauthorized access or data loss), leading candidates to choose encryption or authentication options when the scenario clearly describes physical removal.
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
✓
Use a cable lock to secure the laptop to the desk.
A cable lock physically secures the laptop to a fixed object like a desk, directly preventing theft by requiring physical force or tool removal. Since the breach occurred overnight with no after-hours access, the threat was unauthorized physical removal, not logical access. A cable lock is the only control that addresses the physical theft vector by tethering the device to an immovable anchor.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Install a biometric fingerprint reader on the laptop.
Why it's wrong here
A fingerprint reader controls who can log on, not whether the hardware can be carried away, so it leaves the theft risk unchanged. It is tempting because biometrics feel like strong security; it would be correct for preventing unauthorised access to data on a device that stays in place, not for physical removal.
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Require a smart card to log in to the laptop.
Why it's wrong here
A smart card authenticates the user at the operating system, which does nothing to stop a laptop being physically removed from a desk. It is tempting because it strengthens logical access control; it would be the right choice against credential theft or unauthorised logon, not against physical theft of the device itself.
- ✓
Use a cable lock to secure the laptop to the desk.
Why this is correct
A cable lock physically tethers the laptop to the desk, directly addressing the theft scenario where badge logs showed no after-hours floor access. Since the thief likely entered during business hours or tailgated, an access-control review would not help; anchoring the device prevents opportunistic removal regardless of building entry.
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Enable full-disk encryption on the laptop.
Why it's wrong here
Full-disk encryption protects data confidentiality if the laptop is stolen, but it does not stop the physical theft recurring. It is tempting because it is a genuine safeguard for lost devices; it would be the right control for data-at-rest exposure, whereas the scenario requires a physical control such as a cable lock or secured storage.
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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.