easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped
220-1102 Practice Question: During a software installation, a technician…
During a software installation, a technician receives a pop-up warning that the application requires administrator privileges. The user is logged in with a standard account. What is the most appropriate action for the technician to take?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that temporarily adding a user to the Administrators group is acceptable, when in fact the 'Run as administrator' feature is the proper, secure method for one-time elevation without altering account permissions.
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
✓
Right-click the installer and select 'Run as administrator', then enter admin credentials.
The technician can use the 'Run as administrator' feature to supply administrative credentials for a one-time elevated installation without changing the user's account type. This adheres to the principle of least privilege, maintaining security by not permanently elevating the standard user's rights.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Ask the user to log in with an administrator account and install the software.
Why it's wrong here
While technically possible, asking the user to log in with an administrator account is a highly insecure practice that violates the principle of least privilege. It would require the user to know the administrator's credentials or for the administrator to log out and then log back in, granting the user full administrative access to the system. This is an unnecessary security risk for a single software installation, as it exposes sensitive credentials and provides excessive system-wide permissions.
- ✓
Right-click the installer and select 'Run as administrator', then enter admin credentials.
Why this is correct
This is the most appropriate and secure method for installing software that requires elevated privileges. By right-clicking the installer and selecting 'Run as administrator', the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears, allowing the technician to input their own administrative credentials. This grants the installer the necessary elevated permissions for the installation without permanently changing the user's account type or exposing administrative passwords to the end-user, thereby adhering to the principle of least privilege.
- ✗
Temporarily add the user to the Administrators group, install, then remove them.
Why it's wrong here
Temporarily adding the user to the Administrators group is incorrect because the technician, not the user, is performing the installation. The technician should utilise their own administrative credentials via a User Account Control (UAC) prompt to authorise the software installation, maintaining the user's standard account status. Elevating the user's account, even briefly, grants excessive system-wide permissions, violating the principle of least privilege. This action would be appropriate if the user themselves needed to perform ongoing administrative tasks or install software independently.
- ✗
Cancel the installation and escalate to a senior technician.
Why it's wrong here
Canceling the installation and escalating to a senior technician is an inefficient and unnecessary step in this common scenario. A software installation requiring elevated privileges is a routine task that a competent technician should be equipped to handle using standard administrative procedures, such as utilizing User Account Control (UAC) prompts. Escalation should be reserved for complex, unusual, or unresolved technical issues that are beyond the technician's current skill set or authority, not for standard privilege elevation requirements.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Windows Security Features
Key term
Least privilege
Least privilege is a security principle that means giving users, systems, or programs only the minimum permissions they need to do their job and nothing more.
Key term
Security
Security in IT is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
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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.