easyMultiple Choice
CAS-004 Practice Question: A compliance officer is reviewing logs from a web…
A compliance officer is reviewing logs from a web application and finds multiple failed login attempts from a single IP address. Which type of control should be implemented to reduce the risk of brute-force attacks?
⚠ Common exam trap
CompTIA often tests the misconception that network-level controls like firewalls are sufficient to stop application-layer attacks, but the trap here is that brute-force prevention requires application-layer logic (account lockout or rate limiting), not just network filtering.
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
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Account lockout policy
An account lockout policy is the correct control because it directly mitigates brute-force attacks by temporarily disabling the account after a predefined number of failed login attempts (e.g., 5 failures within 15 minutes). This prevents an attacker from continuously guessing passwords from a single IP address, as the account becomes unavailable for further attempts until the lockout period expires or an administrator intervenes.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Account lockout policy
Why this is correct
An account lockout policy disables an account after a set number of failed attempts, throttling automated password guessing from a single source. This directly mitigates the brute-force risk described, unlike detective logging or generic awareness controls.
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Network firewall
Why it's wrong here
A network firewall filters by IP, port and protocol, so it cannot inspect repeated application-layer login failures or lock accounts. It is tempting because firewalls do block malicious source addresses, and would be correct for denying traffic from a known hostile subnet rather than responding to failed authentication events.
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Password hashing
Why it's wrong here
Hashing protects stored credentials if the database leaks; it cannot detect or throttle repeated authentication attempts arriving over the network. It is tempting because hashing is a genuine authentication safeguard, and it would be the right control for preventing offline cracking of a stolen password table, not for blocking brute-force traffic.
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Encryption of traffic
Why it's wrong here
Encrypting traffic protects data confidentiality in transit but does nothing to limit repeated authentication attempts from one source. Encryption is the right control when the risk is interception or eavesdropping on the wire, not credential guessing against a login endpoint.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CAS-005 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 CAS-005 exam.