- A
The remote desktop software is using an outdated encryption protocol.
Why wrong: Outdated encryption might cause compatibility issues but not significant lag; modern protocols are efficient.
- B
The user's computer has insufficient RAM to handle remote desktop sessions.
Why wrong: While low RAM can affect performance, remote desktop protocols are designed to be lightweight; lag is more often network-related.
- C
The network connection between the technician and the user has high latency or low bandwidth.
Remote desktop traffic is sensitive to latency. High latency causes noticeable delay between input and screen updates, while low bandwidth causes choppy video.
- D
The technician's computer is running a different operating system than the user's.
Why wrong: Different operating systems do not cause lag; remote desktop tools are cross-platform and handle differences at the application layer.
Quick Answer
The answer is high network latency or low bandwidth. This is the most likely cause of remote desktop lag because protocols like RDP or VNC must transmit screen updates and input events in real time; when the network connection between the technician and the user suffers from high latency, each packet takes longer to complete its round trip, while low bandwidth forces the protocol to drop frames or increase compression, creating the noticeable delay between the technician’s actions and the screen update. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding of how network performance directly impacts remote troubleshooting tools, and a common trap is to blame the user’s computer hardware or the remote desktop software itself, when the real culprit is almost always the network. Remember the memory tip: “Lag is a network drag”—if the screen is slow to update, check the connection first.
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.
During a remote troubleshooting session, a technician uses a tool that allows them to view the user's screen and control the mouse and keyboard. The user reports that the session is extremely laggy, with noticeable delay between the technician's actions and the screen update. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this lag?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
The network connection between the technician and the user has high latency or low bandwidth.
The lag described is a classic symptom of network latency or insufficient bandwidth, which directly impacts the responsiveness of remote desktop protocols like RDP or VNC. These protocols transmit screen updates and input events in real time; high latency delays the round-trip of packets, while low bandwidth can cause frame drops or compression artifacts, resulting in the noticeable delay between the technician's actions and the screen update.
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.
- ✗
The remote desktop software is using an outdated encryption protocol.
Why it's wrong here
Outdated encryption might cause compatibility issues but not significant lag; modern protocols are efficient.
- ✗
The user's computer has insufficient RAM to handle remote desktop sessions.
Why it's wrong here
While low RAM can affect performance, remote desktop protocols are designed to be lightweight; lag is more often network-related.
- ✓
The network connection between the technician and the user has high latency or low bandwidth.
Why this is correct
Remote desktop traffic is sensitive to latency. High latency causes noticeable delay between input and screen updates, while low bandwidth causes choppy video.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
The technician's computer is running a different operating system than the user's.
Why it's wrong here
Different operating systems do not cause lag; remote desktop tools are cross-platform and handle differences at the application layer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the concept that remote desktop lag is primarily a network issue (latency/bandwidth), not a hardware or OS compatibility problem, and the trap here is that candidates may incorrectly attribute the lag to the user's local hardware (RAM) or encryption overhead instead of recognizing the network as the most likely culprit.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Remote desktop protocols like RDP use a client-server model where screen updates are encoded (e.g., using RemoteFX or H.264) and transmitted over TCP or UDP. High latency (e.g., >150 ms) causes the technician's input to be delayed before reaching the remote host, and the resulting screen update is similarly delayed on the return path; low bandwidth forces the protocol to reduce frame rate or image quality, compounding the perceived lag. In real-world scenarios, a technician might use `ping` to measure round-trip time or `iperf` to test bandwidth, confirming that network conditions are the bottleneck.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
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: The network connection between the technician and the user has high latency or low bandwidth. — The lag described is a classic symptom of network latency or insufficient bandwidth, which directly impacts the responsiveness of remote desktop protocols like RDP or VNC. These protocols transmit screen updates and input events in real time; high latency delays the round-trip of packets, while low bandwidth can cause frame drops or compression artifacts, resulting in the noticeable delay between the technician's actions and the screen update.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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.
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