CV0-004 Troubleshooting Practice Question
A company has a cloud-based application that uses a relational database. The database team performs daily backups to an on-premises storage system using a VPN connection. Recently, backups have been failing with timeout errors. The network team confirms the VPN is up and stable. Which of the following is the MOST likely cause?
⚠ Common exam trap
Test-takers frequently assume a stable VPN means the link has sufficient capacity, but CompTIA often tests the distinction between connectivity (layer 3) and throughput (layer 4/performance), where a stable tunnel can still be too slow for large data transfers.
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
✓
The VPN bandwidth is insufficient for the backup data volume
The VPN connection is confirmed stable, so tunnel configuration and firewall issues are unlikely. Backup timeout errors with large data volumes typically indicate insufficient bandwidth, causing the transfer to exceed the timeout threshold. The database service itself is responding (backups are attempted), ruling out service unavailability.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
The database service is not responding
Why it's wrong here
A non-responding database service would typically produce connection-refused or query errors rather than timeouts during transfer, and the stem describes backups that start then stall. It is tempting because service failure is a common backup cause; it would be correct if the database were down or unresponsive to queries.
- ✓
The VPN bandwidth is insufficient for the backup data volume
Why this is correct
Insufficient VPN bandwidth saturates the tunnel during large backup transfers, causing TCP retransmissions and eventual timeout errors despite the VPN remaining up and stable. A relational database's daily full or incremental backup volume can exceed the tunnel's throughput, so the constraint of a stable-but-limited VPN link is satisfied by this explanation.
- ✗
The VPN tunnel is not properly configured
Why it's wrong here
The network team confirmed the VPN is up and stable, so tunnel misconfiguration is contradicted by the evidence; a broken tunnel would drop the connection outright rather than time out mid-transfer. It is tempting because VPN faults commonly cause backup failures; it would be correct if the tunnel were down or flapping.
- ✗
The on-premises firewall is blocking the backup port
Why it's wrong here
A firewall blocking the backup port would refuse or drop the connection immediately, producing connection failures rather than timeouts after transfer begins. It is tempting because firewall rules commonly block backup traffic; it would be correct if no connection could be established at all.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CV0-004 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 CV0-004 exam.