220-1102 Security Practice Question
A company's security policy requires that no unauthorized removable storage devices be connected to company workstations. Which method should be used to enforce this policy on all Windows 10 computers?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse security controls, thinking that encryption (BitLocker) or network firewalls can block physical device access, when in fact only device-level policies or dedicated hardware controls can enforce such restrictions.
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
✓
Configure a Group Policy Object to disable removable storage access
Configuring a Group Policy Object (GPO) to disable removable storage access is the correct method because it centrally enforces the security policy across all Windows 10 computers in a domain. The relevant policy setting is located under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Removable Storage Access, where you can enable 'All Removable Storage classes: Deny all access'. This setting leverages Active Directory to apply the restriction to all targeted workstations, ensuring no unauthorized USB drives or other removable media can be used.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Configure a Group Policy Object to disable removable storage access
Why this is correct
Configure a Group Policy Object to disable removable storage access is correct because GPOs provide centralized administrative control over Windows devices. Within Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Removable Storage Access, policies such as 'All Removable Storage Classes: Deny all access' can be set to block reading, writing, or executing from USB drives and other storage devices. This policy applies at the system level and is the standard, supported method for restricting hardware device access in an Active Directory enterprise environment.
- ✗
Install an antivirus program that blocks USB devices
Why it's wrong here
Installing an antivirus program that blocks USB devices is incorrect because antivirus software is designed to detect and remediate malware in files, processes, and memory, not to manage physical hardware connections. While some endpoint protection suites include device control modules, standard antivirus programs do not prevent a USB device from being enumerated and mounted by the operating system. Relying on antivirus to enforce hardware restrictions would be an unsupported and incomplete solution to the policy requirement.
- ✗
Enable Windows Defender Firewall with strict rules
Why it's wrong here
Enabling Windows Defender Firewall with strict rules is incorrect because a firewall operates at the network layer, filtering inbound and outbound traffic based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols. It has no mechanism to interact with the USB stack or the PnP subsystem that handles device connections. Physical access via removable storage bypasses the network entirely, so firewall rules cannot block or even detect a USB drive being plugged into the machine.
- ✗
Use BitLocker to encrypt all drives
Why it's wrong here
Using BitLocker to encrypt all drives is incorrect because BitLocker provides data confidentiality through encryption, but it does not control whether a storage device can be connected or accessed. When an encrypted drive is mounted, the user may be prompted for a key, but the hardware connection itself is never blocked. BitLocker protects data at rest from offline attacks, but it does not satisfy a policy that specifically requires preventing unauthorized devices from being attached.
Quick reference
AWS S3 Storage Class Comparison
| Storage Class | Min Duration | Retrieval | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| S3 Standard | None | Immediate | Frequently accessed data |
| S3 Standard-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Infrequent access, rapid retrieval |
| S3 One Zone-IA | 30 days | Immediate | Non-critical infrequent data |
| S3 Intelligent-Tiering | None | Immediate–hours | Unknown or changing access patterns |
| S3 Glacier Instant | 90 days | Milliseconds | Archive with instant retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Flexible | 90 days | Minutes–hours | Archive, flexible retrieval |
| S3 Glacier Deep Archive | 180 days | Hours | Long-term compliance archive |
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Windows Security Features
Key term
Object
In IT and cloud computing, an object is a discrete unit of data stored in a structure that pairs the data with its metadata and a unique identifier, enabling scalable access without a traditional folder hierarchy.
Key term
Security policy
A security policy is a formal set of rules and guidelines that an organization establishes to protect its information assets and technology resources.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This 220-1102 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 220-1102 exam.