easyMultiple Choice
220-1102 Practice Question: During a routine security audit, you find that an…
During a routine security audit, you find that an employee has taped their door lock open to avoid using their badge every time they leave for a break. What is the most immediate security concern with this practice?
⚠ Common exam trap
The CompTIA A+ exam often tests the distinction between a policy violation and an actual security vulnerability—candidates may pick Option B because they focus on compliance rather than the immediate operational risk of unauthorized physical access.
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
✓
Unauthorized persons can enter without credentials
Propping a door lock open bypasses the physical access control system (PACS), allowing anyone—including unauthorized individuals—to enter the secured area without presenting valid credentials (e.g., a proximity card or PIN). This directly defeats the purpose of the access control mechanism, which is to authenticate and log each entry. The most immediate risk is that an attacker or tailgater can gain unrestricted physical access to sensitive assets, systems, or data.
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 employee might lose their badge
Why it's wrong here
Losing a badge is an administrative inconvenience, not the exposure created by taping the latch; the door stands unlocked, so anyone can enter the secured area without credentials. It is tempting because badge loss is a real access-control concern, and would be the correct answer if the employee had actually misplaced the badge.
- ✗
It violates company badge policy
Why it's wrong here
A policy breach is a procedural finding; the immediate concern is that the propped door permits unauthorised physical entry to the secured area. It is tempting because audit findings often cite policy violations, and would be correct if the question asked which rule the employee breached rather than the resulting security exposure.
- ✓
Unauthorized persons can enter without credentials
Why this is correct
Taping the latch defeats the lock's authentication function, so anyone walking past can enter the restricted area without a badge. The immediate concern is unauthorised entry; audit trails and accountability are lost too, but physical access is the direct risk.
- ✗
The door lock may break from being forced open
Why it's wrong here
Physical wear on the lock is a maintenance cost, not the security exposure; the taped latch leaves the door permanently unsecured, allowing unauthenticated entry. It is tempting because forcing a mechanism can cause damage, and would be the correct answer if the question asked about equipment longevity rather than the immediate security concern.
Go deeper
Related to this question
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SOHO Router Security Configuration
Key term
Access control
Access control is the security practice of determining who or what is allowed to view, use, or enter a resource, and under what conditions.
Key term
Audit
An audit is a systematic, independent review of IT systems, processes, and controls to verify compliance with policies, standards, and regulations.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.