The answer is to deploy Microsoft LAPS, the Local Administrator Password Solution. This tool is correct because it automatically generates and rotates unique local administrator passwords for each domain-joined workstation, storing them securely in Active Directory and enforcing password complexity through Group Policy. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your knowledge of security best practices for mitigating lateral movement and pass-the-hash attacks, often appearing as a scenario where identical local admin passwords are discovered during an audit. A common trap is confusing LAPS with a simple Group Policy password reset script or third-party tools, but LAPS is the native Microsoft solution that integrates directly with AD. Remember the memory tip: “LAPS keeps local passwords unique, so attackers can’t hop from machine to machine.”
220-1102 PC Security Issue Remediation Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of pc security issue remediation. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 routine security audit, you find that several workstations have the same local administrator password. The company policy requires unique passwords for each machine. Which tool or method should you use to enforce unique local administrator passwords across the domain?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy Microsoft LAPS (Local Administrator Password Solution).
Microsoft LAPS (Local Administrator Password Solution) is the correct tool because it automatically manages local administrator passwords on domain-joined computers, storing them in Active Directory and rotating them to unique values per machine. This directly enforces the policy of unique local admin passwords without manual intervention, using the `AdmPwd` extension and Group Policy to configure password complexity and rotation intervals.
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.
✗
Use Group Policy to set a standard local admin password.
Why it's wrong here
Setting a standard password via Group Policy would make all machines use the same password, violating security policy.
✗
Enable BitLocker on each workstation.
Why it's wrong here
BitLocker encrypts the drive but does not manage local account passwords.
✓
Deploy Microsoft LAPS (Local Administrator Password Solution).
Why this is correct
LAPS automatically manages unique local admin passwords and stores them securely in AD, meeting the policy requirement.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Disable the local administrator account on all workstations.
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the account may break some applications or support scenarios; the policy requires unique passwords, not disabling.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the misconception that Group Policy can enforce unique passwords, but candidates must remember that Group Policy applies the same setting to all objects in its scope, making it unsuitable for uniqueness; LAPS is the specific Microsoft solution designed for this exact requirement.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
Disabling the account may break some applications or support scenarios; the policy requires unique passwords, not disabling.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
LAPS works by installing the `AdmPwd` client-side extension on each workstation, which communicates with Active Directory via LDAP to store the local admin password in a confidential attribute (`ms-Mcs-AdmPwd`) on the computer object. The password is automatically rotated based on a configurable Group Policy setting (e.g., every 30 days), and access to the password is controlled through AD permissions, ensuring only authorized users (e.g., helpdesk) can retrieve it. In real-world scenarios, LAPS prevents lateral movement in a breach where an attacker compromises one workstation and tries to reuse the same local admin password across the network.
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.
PC Security Issue Remediation — This question tests PC Security Issue Remediation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy Microsoft LAPS (Local Administrator Password Solution). — Microsoft LAPS (Local Administrator Password Solution) is the correct tool because it automatically manages local administrator passwords on domain-joined computers, storing them in Active Directory and rotating them to unique values per machine. This directly enforces the policy of unique local admin passwords without manual intervention, using the `AdmPwd` extension and Group Policy to configure password complexity and rotation intervals.
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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