220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A technician is configuring a Windows 10 Pro workstation for a remote user. The user needs to securely access files on the corporate network without installing a third-party VPN client. Which built-in Windows feature should the technician use?
⚠ Common exam trap
Many exam-takers confuse Remote Desktop (a remote control tool) with a VPN (a network tunnel), or assume DirectAccess is available on Pro editions, when in fact it is limited to Enterprise/Education and requires complex infrastructure like IPv6 and PKI.
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
✓
Windows VPN
Windows VPN (C) is the correct answer because Windows 10 Pro includes a built-in VPN client that supports PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP, and IKEv2 protocols, allowing the user to securely connect to the corporate network without third-party software. The question specifies 'securely access files' and 'without installing a third-party VPN client,' which directly matches the native Windows VPN functionality.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Remote Desktop
Why it's wrong here
Remote Desktop (RDP) is designed for interactive remote control of a computer, allowing a user to see and operate the desktop GUI, not to securely connect a Windows 10 Pro workstation to a corporate network for file access. Launching mstsc.exe creates a point-to-point session to a single host, and while it can transfer files via Clipboard or drive redirection, it does not provide a network-level VPN tunnel or appear as a client on the corporate LAN. Thus it fails the stated requirement of secure file access over a network.
- ✗
DirectAccess
Why it's wrong here
DirectAccess is an always-on, seamless remote-access technology that ties into Active Directory and requires Windows Enterprise or Ultimate editions for the client side. Windows 10 Pro lacks the DirectAccess client support, and the feature also demands a significant server-side infrastructure such as Network Location Server, PKI, and IPv6/IP-HTTPS. Since the workstation is Windows 10 Pro, DirectAccess cannot be configured, making it an invalid answer despite its VPN-like capabilities.
- ✓
Windows VPN
Why this is correct
Windows VPN refers to the built-in VPN client in Windows 10 Pro, which supports PPTP, L2TP/IPsec, SSTP, and IKEv2 protocols. It can be configured with a connection name, server address, and credentials to establish a secure encrypted tunnel to a corporate network, enabling access to file shares and internal resources just as if the remote user were on-site. This is the only option that is both available on Windows 10 Pro and specifically designed for secure network-level file access.
- ✗
Always On VPN
Why it's wrong here
Always On VPN is a Microsoft remote-access solution that automatically establishes a connection, but it is available only in Windows 10/11 Enterprise and Education editions. Windows 10 Pro does not include this feature, so it cannot be used for the user's secure file access. Even though it would technically meet the connectivity requirement, the edition restriction makes it an incorrect choice for this workstation.
Quick reference
VPN Protocol Comparison
| Protocol | Port | Encryption | Authentication | Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IKEv2 / IPsec | UDP 500 / 4500 | AES-256 | Certificates / PSK | Site-to-site & remote access |
| SSL / TLS VPN | TCP 443 | TLS 1.3 | Certificates / MFA | Clientless remote access |
| L2TP / IPsec | UDP 1701 | AES (IPsec) | PSK / Certificates | Legacy remote access |
| WireGuard | UDP 51820 | ChaCha20 | Public keys | Modern high-performance VPN |
| PPTP | TCP 1723 | MPPE (weak) | MS-CHAPv2 | Legacy — avoid in production |
PPTP is considered insecure. IKEv2/IPsec and SSL VPN are the current recommended options.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Virtualization and Client-Side
Key term
Internet Protocol Security
Internet Protocol Security (IPsec) is a suite of protocols that encrypts and authenticates data packets sent over IP networks to ensure private and secure communication.
Key term
IPsec
IPsec is a suite of protocols used to secure Internet Protocol (IP) communications by encrypting and authenticating each IP packet in a data stream.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
1 more way this is tested on 220-1102
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 technician is configuring a Windows 10 Pro workstation for a user who will be working remotely. The user needs to be able to access files on the corporate network securely without installing a separate VPN client. Which built-in Windows feature should the technician configure?
easy- A.DirectAccess
- B.Remote Desktop
- C.BranchCache
- ✓ D.Work Folders
Why D: Work Folders is a built-in Windows feature that allows users to synchronize files from a corporate file server to their workstation, providing offline access and secure remote file access via HTTPS. Unlike DirectAccess, which is only available on Windows 10 Enterprise and Education, Work Folders is supported on Windows 10 Pro and does not require a separate VPN client. It enables users to access files on the corporate network securely by syncing with a Work Folders server over the internet.
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.