The answer is the remote computer’s Windows Firewall blocking WMI traffic. This is correct because Get-CimInstance relies on the WS-Management protocol, which uses WinRM over ports 5985 (HTTP) and 5986 (HTTPS); even with domain-joined admin rights, the remote firewall must explicitly allow inbound WinRM traffic for the CIM session to succeed. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that PowerShell remote access denied errors often stem from firewall rules, not permissions—a common trap is assuming domain membership alone grants access. Remember the memory tip: “CIM needs WinRM, WinRM needs ports 5985/5986 open.”
220-1202 Scripting Basics Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of scripting basics. 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 writing a PowerShell script to check the last boot time of a remote computer. The script uses Get-CimInstance Win32_OperatingSystem. The script works locally but fails with an access denied error when targeting a remote machine. Both computers are domain-joined and the technician has admin rights. What is the most likely issue?
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
✓
The remote computer has Windows Firewall blocking WMI traffic.
Get-CimInstance uses the WS-Management (WSMan) protocol, which relies on WinRM. By default, Windows Firewall blocks inbound WinRM traffic on port 5985 (HTTP) and 5986 (HTTPS). Even though the technician has admin rights and both machines are domain-joined, the remote firewall must allow WinRM traffic for the CIM session to succeed. The local success is because no firewall traversal is needed.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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 remote computer does not have PowerShell installed.
Why it's wrong here
Get-CimInstance uses WMI, which is available on all Windows systems regardless of PowerShell version.
✓
The remote computer has Windows Firewall blocking WMI traffic.
Why this is correct
WMI remote connections require specific firewall rules; if blocked, access is denied.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The script uses an incorrect namespace.
Why it's wrong here
The namespace root/cimv2 is default and correct for Win32_OperatingSystem.
✗
The technician is not a member of the Remote Management Users group.
Why it's wrong here
Admin rights are sufficient for WMI; the Remote Management Users group is for WinRM.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that access denied errors are always due to permissions or group membership, when in fact network-level firewall blocking of WinRM/WMI traffic is a frequent real-world cause.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Get-CimInstance communicates over WSMan, which is layered on top of HTTP/HTTPS. The WinRM service must be running and the firewall must permit inbound traffic on TCP 5985 (or 5986 for HTTPS). Even with proper credentials, if the remote firewall blocks these ports, the connection will fail with an access denied or RPC server unavailable error. A common subtlety is that the default Windows Firewall rule for 'Windows Remote Management (HTTP-In)' is disabled on many systems until explicitly enabled.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this 220-1202 question in full detail.
Scripting Basics — This question tests Scripting Basics — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The remote computer has Windows Firewall blocking WMI traffic. — Get-CimInstance uses the WS-Management (WSMan) protocol, which relies on WinRM. By default, Windows Firewall blocks inbound WinRM traffic on port 5985 (HTTP) and 5986 (HTTPS). Even though the technician has admin rights and both machines are domain-joined, the remote firewall must allow WinRM traffic for the CIM session to succeed. The local success is because no firewall traversal is needed.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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