The answer is WPA3-SAE because it is the only option that satisfies the company’s AES encryption requirement while offering the highest security standard. WPA3-SAE inherently uses AES-CCMP encryption and adds Simultaneous Authentication of Equals, which provides forward secrecy and robust protection against offline dictionary attacks—capabilities that WPA2-PSK (AES) lacks. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your ability to prioritize both encryption strength and protocol features; a common trap is choosing WPA2-PSK (AES) since it also uses AES, but the policy’s demand for the strongest security points to WPA3-SAE. Remember the memory tip: “WPA3 beats WPA2—SAE seals the deal.”
220-1102 Wireless Security Protocols Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of wireless security protocols. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 company's security policy requires all wireless traffic to be encrypted with AES. A technician is configuring a new access point and sees the following options: WPA2-PSK (TKIP), WPA2-PSK (AES), WPA3-SAE, and WEP. Which option should the technician select?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
WPA3-SAE
WPA3-SAE uses AES encryption by default and is the most secure option. It also provides forward secrecy and protection against offline dictionary attacks. The policy requires AES, and WPA3 meets that while being the latest standard.
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.
✗
WPA2-PSK (TKIP)
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. TKIP uses RC4, not AES, and is deprecated due to security vulnerabilities.
✗
WPA2-PSK (AES)
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While this uses AES, WPA3-SAE is more secure and should be preferred when available.
✓
WPA3-SAE
Why this is correct
Correct. WPA3-SAE uses AES encryption and provides stronger security than WPA2, making it the best choice.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
WEP
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. WEP is insecure and does not use AES; it should never be used in a modern network.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Wireless Security Protocols — This question tests Wireless Security Protocols — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: WPA3-SAE — WPA3-SAE uses AES encryption by default and is the most secure option. It also provides forward secrecy and protection against offline dictionary attacks. The policy requires AES, and WPA3 meets that while being the latest standard.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 company's IT policy requires that all wireless traffic be encrypted using the strongest available protocol. A technician is configuring a new access point that supports WPA3-SAE, WPA2-PSK with AES, and WPA2-PSK with TKIP. Which configuration meets the policy?
easy
A.WPA2-PSK with TKIP.
B.WPA2-PSK with AES.
✓ C.WPA3-SAE.
D.A mixed mode of WPA2 and WPA3.
Why C: WPA3-SAE is the strongest available wireless security protocol, providing forward secrecy and stronger authentication than WPA2. It is the correct choice for maximum security.
Variation 2. A company's security policy mandates that all wireless traffic must be encrypted using a protocol that is resistant to KRACK attacks. The current network uses WPA2-PSK with AES. Which of the following upgrades should be implemented to meet this requirement?
hard
A.Change the encryption from AES to TKIP.
B.Enable WPA2-Enterprise with 802.1X.
✓ C.Upgrade to WPA3-Personal.
D.Implement MAC address filtering.
Why C: KRACK attacks exploit vulnerabilities in the WPA2 protocol's four-way handshake. WPA3 is designed to mitigate these attacks through the use of SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) and 256-bit encryption. This question tests knowledge of specific vulnerabilities and the corresponding protocol improvements.
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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.
Question Discussion
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