- A
Secure Boot
Why wrong: Secure Boot ensures that only trusted firmware and OS components boot, but it does not require a user PIN; it is a different feature.
- B
BitLocker with TPM and PIN protector
BitLocker can use a TPM plus a PIN for pre-boot authentication, requiring both hardware validation and user input to unlock the drive.
- C
Windows Defender System Guard
Why wrong: System Guard is a security feature that protects system integrity at boot, but it does not require a PIN or directly encrypt the drive.
- D
Group Policy password complexity enforcement
Why wrong: Password complexity policies apply to user account passwords, not pre-boot authentication for drive encryption.
Question 750 of 750
BitLocker with PIN and TPM: Pre-Boot Authentication
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of logical security concepts. 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 company's security policy requires that all laptops have a TPM chip enabled and be configured to require a PIN at startup before the operating system loads. Which security feature is being configured?
Quick Answer
The answer is BitLocker with TPM and PIN protector. This configuration enforces pre-boot authentication by requiring the Trusted Platform Module to first verify the system’s integrity, and then demanding a user-entered PIN before the operating system loads. The PIN acts as an additional factor beyond the TPM’s hardware-based validation, ensuring that even if the laptop is stolen with the TPM intact, an attacker cannot boot the drive without the secret code. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of BitLocker’s pre-boot authentication options and the layered security model—a common trap is assuming the TPM alone is sufficient, but the policy explicitly requires a PIN at startup. Remember the mnemonic “TPM checks the lock, PIN opens the door” to recall that the TPM validates system integrity while the PIN provides user-driven access control.
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
✓
BitLocker with TPM and PIN protector
The scenario describes using a TPM chip and requiring a PIN at startup before the OS loads. This is exactly how BitLocker's TPM+PIN protector works: the TPM validates the system integrity, and the PIN provides an additional factor of authentication, unlocking the drive encryption key before Windows boots. Option B is correct because it directly matches the described configuration.
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.
- ✗
Secure Boot
Why it's wrong here
Secure Boot ensures that only trusted firmware and OS components boot, but it does not require a user PIN; it is a different feature.
- ✓
BitLocker with TPM and PIN protector
Why this is correct
BitLocker can use a TPM plus a PIN for pre-boot authentication, requiring both hardware validation and user input to unlock the drive.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Windows Defender System Guard
Why it's wrong here
System Guard is a security feature that protects system integrity at boot, but it does not require a PIN or directly encrypt the drive.
- ✗
Group Policy password complexity enforcement
Why it's wrong here
Password complexity policies apply to user account passwords, not pre-boot authentication for drive encryption.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse Secure Boot (which only verifies bootloader integrity) with the full-disk encryption and pre-boot authentication provided by BitLocker with TPM+PIN.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
BitLocker with TPM+PIN uses the TPM to seal the Volume Master Key (VMK) and requires both a valid TPM measurement (PCR values) and a user-entered PIN to unseal it. The PIN is hashed and combined with the TPM's storage root key to decrypt the VMK, which then decrypts the Full Volume Encryption Key (FVEK). In a real-world scenario, if the TPM is tampered with or the boot components change, the PIN alone cannot unseal the key, providing tamper detection.
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 220-1202 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.
- →
Logical Security Concepts — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Logical Security Concepts — This question tests Logical Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: BitLocker with TPM and PIN protector — The scenario describes using a TPM chip and requiring a PIN at startup before the OS loads. This is exactly how BitLocker's TPM+PIN protector works: the TPM validates the system integrity, and the PIN provides an additional factor of authentication, unlocking the drive encryption key before Windows boots. Option B is correct because it directly matches the described configuration.
What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This 220-1202 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 220-1202 exam.
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