mediumMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
Wide Area Network (WAN) Explained
A company has offices in two different cities and needs to connect their local networks so employees can access centralized resources. They require a secure, high-speed connection over a long distance. Which network type should be used?
Quick Answer
The answer is a Wide Area Network (WAN). A WAN is the correct choice because it is specifically designed to interconnect multiple Local Area Networks (LANs) across large geographic distances, such as between two different cities, using leased lines or secure VPN tunnels to provide a high-speed, long-distance connection. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this concept tests your ability to distinguish network types by scale; a common trap is confusing a Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) with a WAN, but remember that a MAN covers a single city or campus, not multiple cities. To lock in the difference, think of the acronyms geographically: LAN is local (your office), MAN is metro (your city), and WAN is wide (the world). A quick memory tip: “WAN is the wide world, MAN is your metro, LAN is your land.”
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mistake is selecting Metropolitan Area Network (MAN) because it seems to cover a large area, but MAN is limited to a single city or metropolitan region, not connecting two different cities over a long distance.
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
✓
Wide Area Network (WAN)
A Wide Area Network (WAN) is the correct choice because it connects geographically separated networks over long distances, providing the secure, high-speed link required for centralized resource access between two cities. Technologies like MPLS, leased lines (e.g., T1/E1), or VPNs over fiber optic connections are commonly used to implement WANs for such inter-site connectivity.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Local Area Network (LAN)
Why it's wrong here
A LAN is confined to a single location and cannot connect offices in different cities.
- ✗
Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
Why it's wrong here
A MAN covers a city-sized area but not multiple cities, so it would not work for this scenario.
- ✓
Wide Area Network (WAN)
Why this is correct
A WAN is specifically built to connect networks across long distances, such as between cities, and supports secure connections.
- ✗
Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why it's wrong here
A PAN covers only a few meters and is irrelevant for inter-city connectivity.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Mobile Device Connectivity
Key term
Wide Area Network
A Wide Area Network (WAN) is a telecommunications network that connects computers and devices across large geographical distances, such as between cities or countries.
Key term
CAN
A CAN (Controller Area Network) is a robust vehicle bus standard designed to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without a host computer.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
2 more ways this is tested on 220-1201
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A large corporation needs to connect its headquarters in New York to a regional office in Los Angeles, as well as to a data center in Chicago, using dedicated leased lines. The network must support high bandwidth for video conferencing and data transfers. Which network topology best describes this setup?
hard- A.Local Area Network (LAN)
- B.Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
- ✓ C.Wide Area Network (WAN)
- D.Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why C: A Wide Area Network (WAN) is the correct topology because it connects geographically dispersed locations—New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago—over a large geographical area using dedicated leased lines (e.g., T1/E1, T3, or MPLS circuits). WANs are specifically designed to provide high-bandwidth, reliable connectivity for applications like video conferencing and data transfers across cities or countries, which matches the requirement for dedicated leased lines spanning multiple states.
Variation 2. A multinational corporation has offices in New York, London, and Tokyo. They need a private, dedicated network to connect all offices with high reliability and low latency. Which network type should be implemented?
hard- A.Local Area Network (LAN)
- B.Metropolitan Area Network (MAN)
- ✓ C.Wide Area Network (WAN)
- D.Personal Area Network (PAN)
Why C: A Wide Area Network (WAN) is the correct choice because it is designed to connect geographically dispersed locations, such as offices in different cities or countries, over a large area. WANs provide private, dedicated circuits (e.g., MPLS, leased lines) that offer high reliability and low latency, meeting the multinational corporation's requirements for interconnecting New York, London, and Tokyo.
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1201 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 220-1201 exam.