easyMultiple Choice
CAS-004 Practice Question: A small business wants to protect endpoints from…
A small business wants to protect endpoints from malware without incurring per-device licensing costs. Which approach is MOST cost-effective?
⚠ Common exam trap
A common misconception is that network-based IPS or host firewall alone can replace endpoint antivirus, when in fact these tools address different layers of defense and cannot detect or remove malware that has already executed on the endpoint.
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
✓
Use built-in Windows Defender and periodically scan with free tools
The most cost-effective because Windows Defender (now Microsoft Defender Antivirus) is built into modern Windows operating systems at no additional cost, providing real-time protection against malware. Supplementing it with free on-demand scanners like Microsoft Safety Scanner or Malwarebytes Free provides periodic secondary checks without per-device licensing fees, meeting the small business's requirement for endpoint protection without recurring costs.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Implement network-based IPS
Why it's wrong here
Network IPS appliances require capital expenditure and maintenance.
- ✗
Use open-source host firewall
Why it's wrong here
A host firewall filters network traffic by port and address; it does not scan files, processes or memory, so malware arriving via email, USB or web downloads is untouched. Tempting as a free built-in control, but the stem requires malware protection, which needs signature or behavioural antivirus scanning.
- ✓
Use built-in Windows Defender and periodically scan with free tools
Why this is correct
Windows Defender ships with the operating system, so endpoint malware protection costs nothing per device; free scanning tools supplement it without subscriptions. This satisfies the no-per-device-licensing constraint, unlike paid endpoint protection platforms that charge per seat.
- ✗
Purchase enterprise EDR suite
Why it's wrong here
Enterprise EDR suites charge per-device or per-endpoint licensing, directly violating the no-per-device-cost requirement. Tempting because EDR delivers strong malware detection and response, and it would be correct where budget allows and centralised threat hunting is needed, but the stem's cost constraint rules it out.
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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.