220-1102 Operating Systems Practice Question
A technician needs to remotely access a Windows 10 computer that is located on a different network subnet. The technician has administrative credentials. Which technology should be configured to allow this remote access without additional third-party software?
⚠ Common exam trap
Watch out — candidates often confuse Remote Assistance or Quick Assist (which require user interaction) with Remote Desktop (which allows unattended administrative access), or they assume SSH is a native Windows solution for remote GUI 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
✓
Remote Desktop with port forwarding on the router
Remote Desktop (RDP) is the native Windows technology for remote graphical access. To reach a computer on a different subnet, the router must forward TCP port 3389 to the target machine's internal IP, allowing the technician to connect across networks without third-party software.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Remote Desktop with port forwarding on the router
Why this is correct
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) with port forwarding on the router provides full graphical control of the Windows 10 machine, allowing you to see the desktop and interact with applications as if you were physically present. Because port 3389 is forwarded to the target computer's internal IP address, the connection traverses subnets and reaches the machine from anywhere on the internet. This is a built-in feature of Windows 10 Pro and Enterprise editions, making it a reliable, persistent remote-access solution.
- ✗
Remote Assistance
Why it's wrong here
Remote Assistance is an invitation-based mechanism that requires a user at the target computer to explicitly send a request for help, often through Windows Messaging or a saved file. The remote user cannot establish a session without this outbound invitation, so it is not suitable for always-on, unattended access across subnets. Additionally, Remote Assistance sessions typically end when the local user logs off or closes the prompt, reinforcing its one-off nature.
- ✗
Quick Assist
Why it's wrong here
Quick Assist is a lightweight screen-sharing utility in Windows 10/11 that requires a Microsoft account to initiate a session, and the user on the target machine must actively accept the incoming assistance request. It is designed for short, interactive support sessions rather than persistent remote administration, and the session terminates as soon as the user closes the window or the connection is interrupted. The tool does not support port forwarding or router configuration to enable unattended access from outside the local network.
- ✗
SSH
Why it's wrong here
SSH (Secure Shell) is not enabled by default on Windows 10; it must be installed manually as an optional feature, and it provides only a command-line interface without a graphical desktop. While it can be used for remote command execution and file transfers, it cannot deliver the full Windows GUI experience that Remote Desktop offers. Configuring SSH access across subnets also requires port forwarding, but the lack of a graphical desktop makes it inappropriate for full remote control.
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Key term
Subnet
A subnet is a logical subdivision of an IP network, created by partitioning a larger network address space using subnet masks.
Key term
Windows 10
Windows 10 is a personal computer operating system developed by Microsoft that combines the familiarity of Windows 7 with the modern features of Windows 8, designed to run on a wide range of devices from desktops to tablets.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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