The answer is a VPN connection, because a VPN is required for Remote Desktop to internal servers when working from home. Without an active VPN tunnel, the user’s computer cannot route traffic to the private IP address of the internal file server, even though their general internet connection is working. The VPN creates an encrypted, secure path into the company’s internal network, allowing Remote Desktop traffic to reach resources that are not exposed to the public internet. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of remote access technologies and the common troubleshooting step of verifying the VPN client status when a user reports “internet works but can’t RDP inside.” A frequent trap is assuming the issue is with the Remote Desktop service itself, when the real culprit is a dropped or misconfigured VPN tunnel. Remember the mnemonic: “VPN first, RDP thirst”—always confirm the tunnel is up before digging deeper into the remote desktop configuration.
220-1102 Remote Access Technologies Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of remote access technologies. 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 user working from home reports that they can no longer connect to the company's internal file server using Remote Desktop. They confirm their internet connection is working. Which remote access technology should the technician verify is still active on the user's VPN client?
Why wrong: SSH tunnels are used for secure command-line access, not typically for RDP to internal servers from a remote location.
B
Remote Desktop Gateway
Why wrong: RD Gateway allows RDP over HTTPS without a full VPN, but the question asks what the technician should verify first on the user's VPN client.
C
VPN connection
A VPN connection provides encrypted access to the corporate network, which is necessary before RDP can reach internal resources.
D
VNC server
Why wrong: VNC is a different remote desktop protocol that does not require a VPN, but it is not the technology used for RDP access.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
VPN connection
The user's internet connection is working, but they cannot reach the internal file server via Remote Desktop. This indicates the VPN tunnel, which provides encrypted access to the internal network, has likely dropped or is misconfigured. Without an active VPN connection, the user's client cannot route traffic to the private IP range of the file server, even though general internet access is available.
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.
✗
SSH tunnel
Why it's wrong here
SSH tunnels are used for secure command-line access, not typically for RDP to internal servers from a remote location.
✗
Remote Desktop Gateway
Why it's wrong here
RD Gateway allows RDP over HTTPS without a full VPN, but the question asks what the technician should verify first on the user's VPN client.
✓
VPN connection
Why this is correct
A VPN connection provides encrypted access to the corporate network, which is necessary before RDP can reach internal resources.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
VNC server
Why it's wrong here
VNC is a different remote desktop protocol that does not require a VPN, but it is not the technology used for RDP access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that Remote Desktop Gateway (RD Gateway) is a VPN client technology, when in fact it is a separate role that proxies RDP connections over HTTPS and does not provide full network-layer access like a VPN tunnel does.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
SSH tunnels are used for secure command-line access, not typically for RDP to internal servers from a remote location.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A VPN client establishes a secure tunnel using protocols such as IPsec (IKEv2) or SSL/TLS (OpenVPN) to encapsulate and encrypt all traffic destined for the corporate network. When the VPN tunnel drops, the client's routing table loses the specific route to the internal subnet (e.g., 10.0.0.0/8), causing RDP packets to either be sent to the default gateway (internet) or fail entirely. In real-world scenarios, a user might still have internet access because the VPN client uses split tunneling, where only corporate traffic goes through the tunnel, while general internet traffic bypasses it.
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.
Remote Access Technologies — This question tests Remote Access Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: VPN connection — The user's internet connection is working, but they cannot reach the internal file server via Remote Desktop. This indicates the VPN tunnel, which provides encrypted access to the internal network, has likely dropped or is misconfigured. Without an active VPN connection, the user's client cannot route traffic to the private IP range of the file server, even though general internet access is available.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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