easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1201 Practice Question: That their cloud-based file synchronization…
A user reports that their cloud-based file synchronization service stopped updating files after a recent OS update. The technician verifies the service is running and the internet connection is active. What should the technician check next?
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 sync client's authentication status
Cloud file sync issues often stem from authentication problems, such as expired credentials or session tokens. Since the service is running and connectivity is fine, the most likely cause is that the user's login token expired and needs re-authentication. Checking the sync logs would reveal the authentication failure.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Reinstall the sync client application
Why it's wrong here
Reinstalling the sync client would not resolve a post-OS-update conflict with file system filters or credential caches, which is the likely cause when the service and connectivity are verified. This action is tempting because it clears corrupted local state and fixes a broken installation; it would be correct if the sync client’s own binaries or registry entries were damaged, not when the OS update altered how the client interacts with the file system or authentication provider like Microsoft Entra ID.
- ✓
Check the sync client's authentication status
Why this is correct
OS updates frequently clear cached credentials or invalidate existing authentication tokens due to security policy changes or system component resets. This often requires the cloud sync client to re-establish its secure connection to the cloud service. Verifying and re-entering credentials ensures the client can properly authenticate and resume file synchronization, making this the most direct and common solution for post-update sync issues.
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Disable the firewall temporarily
Why it's wrong here
Since the user's internet connection is confirmed active, a firewall blocking the sync service specifically after an OS update is improbable unless new, restrictive rules were explicitly applied. While a firewall can impede network access, its primary function is to control traffic, not invalidate application-level authentication. Disabling it would be a troubleshooting step for general connectivity issues, not typically for a specific application's authentication failure post-OS update, and it introduces security risks.
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Increase the storage quota on the cloud account
Why it's wrong here
Increasing the storage quota addresses a capacity limitation, not an authentication or configuration issue stemming from an OS update. While a full quota would indeed prevent new files from syncing, the cloud service typically notifies the user with explicit warnings or error messages about insufficient space. An OS update does not inherently alter a user's cloud storage allocation, making this an unrelated troubleshooting step for the described problem.
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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.