Question 170 of 500

Quick Answer

The answer is to set up a VPN connection with two-factor authentication, as this is the best practice for secure vendor access in IT projects. A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel over the internet, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity during transmission, while two-factor authentication adds a critical second layer of security beyond a simple password, preventing unauthorized access even if credentials are compromised. On the CompTIA Project+ PK0-005 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of balancing operational needs with security controls—specifically, that vendor access must be both encrypted and authenticated. A common trap is choosing a simple password policy or a firewall rule alone, which fails to protect data in transit or verify the vendor’s identity. Remember the mnemonic “VPN + 2FA = Trusted Tunnel” to recall that encryption and multi-factor authentication together form the gold standard for granting external parties secure network entry.

PK0-005 Practice Question: Basics of IT Infrastructure and IT Project Management

This PK0-005 practice question tests your understanding of basics of it infrastructure and it project management. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 project manager is overseeing the implementation of a new customer relationship management (CRM) system. The vendor requires access to the company's internal network to install and configure the software. Which of the following is the BEST practice to ensure security while allowing vendor access?

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.

Question 1hardmultiple choice
Full question →

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

Set up a VPN connection with two-factor authentication

Setting up a VPN connection with two-factor authentication is the best practice because it creates an encrypted tunnel over the internet, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity, while two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password. This approach allows the vendor to access only the internal network resources necessary for installation and configuration, without exposing the entire network to unauthenticated or unencrypted access.

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.

  • Provide the vendor with access to the guest Wi-Fi network

    Why it's wrong here

    Guest Wi-Fi is usually isolated and may not allow access to internal systems; it also lacks strong authentication and encryption for sensitive work.

  • Set up a VPN connection with two-factor authentication

    Why this is correct

    A VPN creates an encrypted tunnel, and two-factor authentication ensures the vendor's identity is verified, providing secure remote access.

    Clue confirmation

    The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.

    Related concept

    Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

  • Allow the vendor to use remote desktop protocol (RDP) directly over the internet

    Why it's wrong here

    Direct RDP over the internet is insecure and commonly targeted by attackers; it should be used only through a secure gateway or VPN.

  • Create a local user account with administrative privileges for the vendor

    Why it's wrong here

    Granting administrative privileges violates the principle of least privilege and increases the risk of unauthorized changes or data breaches.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may think providing a local admin account (Option D) is sufficient for security, overlooking the need for encrypted communication and multi-factor authentication, which are critical for remote vendor access in a production environment.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

A VPN uses protocols such as IPsec or TLS to encapsulate and encrypt all traffic between the vendor's device and the corporate network, ensuring that sensitive data like CRM configuration files and credentials are not transmitted in plaintext. Two-factor authentication (2FA) typically combines something the vendor knows (password) with something they have (e.g., a time-based one-time password from an authenticator app), mitigating the risk of credential theft. In real-world scenarios, organizations often deploy a dedicated VPN concentrator with split tunneling disabled to force all vendor traffic through the encrypted tunnel, preventing accidental data leaks.

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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.

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.

Related practice questions

Related PK0-005 practice-question pages

Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.

Practice this exam

Start a free PK0-005 practice session

Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.

FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this PK0-005 question test?

Basics of IT Infrastructure and IT Project Management — This question tests Basics of IT Infrastructure and IT Project Management — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Set up a VPN connection with two-factor authentication — Setting up a VPN connection with two-factor authentication is the best practice because it creates an encrypted tunnel over the internet, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity, while two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security beyond just a password. This approach allows the vendor to access only the internal network resources necessary for installation and configuration, without exposing the entire network to unauthenticated or unencrypted access.

What should I do if I get this PK0-005 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.

About these practice questions

Courseiva creates original exam-style practice questions with explanations and wrong-answer analysis. It does not publish real exam questions, exam dumps, or protected exam content. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →

How Courseiva writes practice questions · Editorial policy

Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026

Question Discussion

Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.

Loading comments…

Sign in to join the discussion.

This PK0-005 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 PK0-005 exam.