FC0-U71 Tech Concepts and Terminology Practice Question
A user needs to run a Windows application on a Mac. Which approach uses a hypervisor to create a separate environment?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is that Boot Camp also lets you run Windows on a Mac, but it does not use a hypervisor — candidates who overlook the 'hypervisor' keyword may pick Boot Camp incorrectly.
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
✓
Virtual machine
A virtual machine uses a hypervisor (Type 1 or Type 2) to create a separate, isolated environment that emulates hardware, allowing a Windows guest OS to run on a Mac host. This is the only option that explicitly involves a hypervisor, as stated in the question. Boot Camp, by contrast, is a dual-boot solution that does not use a hypervisor.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Virtual machine
Why this is correct
A virtual machine runs a guest OS under a hypervisor, which virtualises CPU, memory and devices so Windows executes in an isolated environment on the Mac host. This directly satisfies the requirement for a hypervisor-based separate environment.
- ✗
Boot Camp
Why it's wrong here
Boot Camp partitions the disk and boots Windows natively on the hardware, so no hypervisor layer exists and macOS cannot run concurrently. It suits users wanting full native performance in one OS at a time.
- ✗
Driver update
Why it's wrong here
A driver update refreshes software controlling existing hardware; it cannot create an isolated guest environment or run Windows binaries on macOS. It is tempting because drivers do resolve device compatibility faults, and updating them would be the right action when a Mac's peripheral or graphics hardware misbehaves under macOS.
- ✗
Compatibility mode
Why it's wrong here
Compatibility mode alters how an existing Windows installation reports its version to legacy software; it cannot create a separate environment on macOS, which requires a hypervisor. It is tempting because it genuinely fixes older applications that refuse to launch on newer Windows builds, but that scenario presumes Windows is already running.
Quick reference
Access Control Model Comparison
| Model | Acronym | Who Controls Access? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discretionary Access Control | DAC | Resource owner | Small teams, file shares |
| Mandatory Access Control | MAC | System / security labels | Classified govt / military |
| Role-Based Access Control | RBAC | Administrator (via roles) | Enterprise environments |
| Attribute-Based Access Control | ABAC | Policy engine (user + resource attributes) | Fine-grained, dynamic policies |
| Rule-Based Access Control | RuBAC | System rules / ACLs | Firewall rules, network ACLs |
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every FC0-U71 question from scratch — 988 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official CompTIA exam blueprint
This FC0-U71 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 FC0-U71 exam.