The answer is the Local Security Policy tool, accessed by running secpol.msc. This is the correct choice because on a standalone Windows 10 workstation—one not joined to a domain—the Local Security Policy is the built-in Microsoft Management Console snap-in that directly controls account policies, including password complexity requirements and expiration intervals. By navigating to Security Settings, Account Policies, and Password Policy, you can enable “Password must meet complexity requirements” to enforce uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters, and set “Maximum password age” to 60 days. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding of local policy management versus domain-based Group Policy; a common trap is confusing secpol.msc with gpedit.msc, but remember that while the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) can also configure these settings, the exam specifically expects secpol.msc as the dedicated tool for security policies on standalone systems. A helpful memory tip: think “SECurity POLicy” for SECPOL—it’s the direct path to hardening a local machine’s passwords.
220-1102 Windows Security Settings Practice Question
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows security settings. 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.
A small business wants to ensure that all employees use strong passwords that include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters, and that passwords expire every 60 days. Which tool should be used to enforce these settings on a standalone Windows 10 workstation?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Local Security Policy (secpol.msc)
Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) allows configuration of password policies on standalone systems. Password must meet complexity requirements and maximum password age can be set to 60 days.
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.
✗
Local Users and Groups (lusrmgr.msc)
Why it's wrong here
This tool manages user accounts and groups but does not configure password policies.
✓
Local Security Policy (secpol.msc)
Why this is correct
This tool provides access to Account Policies, including password complexity and expiration settings.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
Why it's wrong here
This manages firewall rules, not password policies.
✗
Device Manager
Why it's wrong here
Device Manager handles hardware drivers, not security policies.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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.
Identify which 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Windows Security Settings — This question tests Windows Security Settings — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Local Security Policy (secpol.msc) — Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) allows configuration of password policies on standalone systems. Password must meet complexity requirements and maximum password age can be set to 60 days.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which 220-1202 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
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 user calls the help desk complaining that they cannot change their Windows 10 password even though they know the current password. The user is a member of the 'Users' group on a domain-joined computer. What is the most likely cause?
medium
A.The user does not have 'Change Password' permission on their own account.
B.The 'User must change password at next logon' flag is set.
✓ C.The 'Password must meet complexity requirements' policy is preventing the new password from being accepted.
D.The local Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database is corrupted.
Why C: This question tests knowledge of password policies and user permissions. In a domain environment, password policies are typically enforced by the domain controller, not the local machine. The 'Password must meet complexity requirements' policy may be enabled, and the user's new password might not meet those requirements, even though they know the current password.
Last reviewed: Jun 19, 2026
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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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