- A
Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
Why wrong: Firewall controls network traffic, not application execution.
- B
BitLocker Drive Encryption
Why wrong: BitLocker encrypts data at rest and does not control which applications can run.
- C
Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC)
WDAC uses code integrity policies to allow only approved, signed applications to run, meeting the requirement exactly.
- D
User Account Control (UAC)
Why wrong: UAC prompts for elevation but does not block unauthorized software based on publisher signatures.
Question 25 of 750
Windows Defender Application Control vs AppLocker: Which to Use?
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows security settings. 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 security administrator needs to prevent users from running unauthorized software on Windows 10 Enterprise workstations. They want to allow only applications that are signed by approved publishers. Which Windows security feature should be configured?
Quick Answer
The answer is Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC). WDAC is the correct choice because it is a modern, hardware-backed security feature that enforces code integrity policies at the kernel level, allowing only applications signed by approved publishers to run. In contrast, AppLocker is a legacy user-mode feature that can be bypassed more easily and lacks the same level of granular publisher-based control. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this distinction tests your understanding of Microsoft’s evolving application control landscape—WDAC is the recommended solution for enterprise environments requiring strict publisher signature enforcement, while AppLocker is often a distractor for older or less secure scenarios. A common trap is assuming both tools are interchangeable; remember that WDAC is for “modern, mandatory, and kernel-level” control, whereas AppLocker is “legacy, optional, and user-mode.” Memory tip: “WDAC wins for signed publishers—AppLocker is the old timer.”
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
✓
Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC)
Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) is the correct feature because it enforces an application control policy that allows only executables, scripts, and installers signed by approved publishers to run. Unlike AppLocker, WDAC operates at the kernel level and can be configured via Group Policy or MDM to create a trust chain based on the publisher's digital signature, effectively blocking all unauthorized software.
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.
- ✗
Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
Why it's wrong here
Firewall controls network traffic, not application execution.
- ✗
BitLocker Drive Encryption
Why it's wrong here
BitLocker encrypts data at rest and does not control which applications can run.
- ✓
Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC)
Why this is correct
WDAC uses code integrity policies to allow only approved, signed applications to run, meeting the requirement exactly.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
User Account Control (UAC)
Why it's wrong here
UAC prompts for elevation but does not block unauthorized software based on publisher signatures.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between application control (WDAC/AppLocker) and privilege elevation (UAC), so candidates mistakenly choose UAC because they associate it with blocking software, but UAC only prompts for admin approval, not publisher-based whitelisting.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
WDAC uses Code Integrity (CI) policies that are applied early in the boot process via the Windows OS loader, making them resistant to tampering even by kernel-level malware. Policies can be signed and deployed as binary files, and they support multiple rule levels including Publisher, FilePublisher, and Hash, allowing granular control. In a real-world scenario, an organization might deploy a WDAC policy that trusts only Microsoft and a specific ISV's signing certificate, automatically blocking any unsigned or third-party executable from running.
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.
- →
Windows Security Settings — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Windows Security Settings practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
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All 220-1202 questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Windows Security Settings — This question tests Windows Security Settings — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) — Windows Defender Application Control (WDAC) is the correct feature because it enforces an application control policy that allows only executables, scripts, and installers signed by approved publishers to run. Unlike AppLocker, WDAC operates at the kernel level and can be configured via Group Policy or MDM to create a trust chain based on the publisher's digital signature, effectively blocking all unauthorized software.
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.
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 →
Same concept, more angles
1 more ways this is tested on 220-1202
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses AppLocker to control which applications can run on Windows 10 workstations. A user needs to run a portable application from a USB drive for a presentation, but it is blocked by AppLocker. The user has local admin rights. What is the best way to allow this specific application while maintaining security?
medium- A.Temporarily disable AppLocker service.
- B.Add the user to the 'Power Users' group.
- ✓ C.Create a new AppLocker path rule for the USB drive.
- D.Run the application as Administrator.
Why C: AppLocker enforces application control policies regardless of user privileges, including local admin rights. Creating a new path rule for the USB drive allows the specific portable application to run while keeping AppLocker active and maintaining security for other executables. This is the correct approach because it grants a targeted exception without disabling the entire control mechanism.
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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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