easyMultiple Choice
220-1202 Practice Question: During a security audit, you find that a…
During a security audit, you find that a company's server room door is propped open with a trash can to allow airflow. What is the most immediate physical security risk in this scenario?
⚠ Common exam trap
This question tests the ability to prioritize immediate security risks over environmental or maintenance issues; the trap is choosing a plausible but less critical concern (like dust or fire suppression) instead of the direct breach of physical access control.
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
✓
Unauthorized personnel can enter the server room
The most immediate physical security risk of a propped-open server room door is that it completely bypasses access control mechanisms (e.g., badge readers, PIN pads, biometric scanners). This allows any unauthorized person—whether an employee without clearance, a visitor, or an intruder—to enter the server room undetected, potentially leading to theft, vandalism, or data breaches. Physical security controls are the first line of defense, and an open door nullifies them instantly.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Increased dust entering the server room
Why it's wrong here
Dust ingress degrades cooling and hardware reliability over time, but it is an environmental and gradual concern. The immediate risk from an unlatched door is that anyone can physically reach servers and network equipment without passing access control.
- ✗
Fire suppression system may not work
Why it's wrong here
Fire suppression depends on heat or smoke detection and discharges regardless of door position; a propped door does not disable it, though it can affect airflow and suppression effectiveness. Suppression integrity is a genuine concern for open-door policies, but not the immediate exposure here.
- ✓
Unauthorized personnel can enter the server room
Why this is correct
Propping the door defeats the access-control boundary, so anyone walking past can physically reach servers without authentication. The immediate risk is unauthorised entry, enabling theft, tampering or console access; airflow concerns are secondary and should be solved by cooling, not by leaving the perimeter open.
- ✗
The door closer will wear out faster
Why it's wrong here
Door-closer wear is a maintenance cost, not a security exposure; the closer still functions and the door remains physically open either way. Hardware longevity matters for facilities planning, yet it does not describe the unauthorised-access risk created by an unsecured entrance.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
One of 687 original 220-1202 practice questions on Courseiva, each with a full explanation and wrong-answer analysis — not exam dumps or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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.