This CAS-004 practice question tests your understanding of security architecture. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 security administrator needs to secure remote access for employees using personal devices. The company requires that company data be encrypted and that the device be wiped if lost. Which solution best meets these requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "best"
Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Deploy a mobile device management (MDM) solution that enforces device encryption and supports remote wipe.
Mobile device management (MDM) solutions are specifically designed to enforce security policies on personal devices, including mandatory device encryption (e.g., AES-256 for data at rest) and the ability to perform a remote wipe (factory reset) to destroy company data if the device is lost or stolen. This directly addresses the requirement to protect company data on unmanaged, employee-owned devices.
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 network access control (NAC) to allow only compliant devices onto the network.
Why it's wrong here
NAC checks compliance but does not enforce encryption or wipe.
✓
Deploy a mobile device management (MDM) solution that enforces device encryption and supports remote wipe.
Why this is correct
MDM can enforce encryption and perform remote wipe to protect company data.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Require employees to connect via a corporate VPN and use two-factor authentication.
Why it's wrong here
VPNs secure the connection but do not enforce local encryption or remote wipe.
✗
Implement remote desktop protocol (RDP) gateways for all remote access.
Why it's wrong here
RDP does not enforce local device encryption or remote wipe.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse network-level controls (NAC, VPN) or access methods (RDP) with device-level data protection, failing to recognize that only MDM provides the required encryption enforcement and remote wipe capabilities on the endpoint itself.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
MDM solutions leverage platform APIs (e.g., Apple MDM protocol, Android Enterprise) to push configuration profiles that enable full-disk encryption (FileVault on macOS, BitLocker on Windows, hardware-backed encryption on iOS/Android). The remote wipe command typically triggers a device factory reset via the MDM server's push notification (APNs for iOS, FCM for Android), which erases all data including the encryption key, making recovery infeasible. In a real-world scenario, an MDM can also perform a selective wipe (removing only corporate apps and data) if the device is partially managed, preserving the employee's personal data.
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 CAS-004 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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Security Architecture — This question tests Security Architecture — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Deploy a mobile device management (MDM) solution that enforces device encryption and supports remote wipe. — Mobile device management (MDM) solutions are specifically designed to enforce security policies on personal devices, including mandatory device encryption (e.g., AES-256 for data at rest) and the ability to perform a remote wipe (factory reset) to destroy company data if the device is lost or stolen. This directly addresses the requirement to protect company data on unmanaged, employee-owned devices.
What should I do if I get this CAS-004 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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