Question 82 of 750

PC Security Issue Remediation →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Blocking USB Storage with Group Policy While Allowing Specific Devices

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of pc security issue remediation. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 USB storage devices be blocked on company workstations to prevent data exfiltration. A manager needs to temporarily use a USB drive for a presentation. What is the best way to remediate this while maintaining security?

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.

A
Disable the USB blocking Group Policy for the entire domain
Why wrong: Disabling the policy for the whole domain exposes all workstations to risk, not just the manager's.
B
Use a Group Policy to allow only the specific USB device by hardware ID, then remove the allowance after use
This maintains security by only allowing a known device, and you can revert the policy afterward.
C
Give the manager a company-approved USB drive and tell them to use it only once
Why wrong: Without changing the block policy, the drive will still be blocked; instructions alone do not remediate the technical restriction.
D
Create a local admin account on the manager's workstation and disable the USB block locally
Why wrong: Local changes can be overridden by Group Policy and create a security gap; it is better to manage via policy.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The best approach is to use a Group Policy to allow only the specific USB device by hardware ID, then remove the allowance after use. This works because Group Policy can block all USB storage via the "Removable Storage Access" policy, but it also supports granular exceptions by configuring "Allow install of devices using drivers that match these device setup classes" combined with a hardware ID allow list. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this tests your understanding of balancing security with operational needs—a common scenario where you must prevent data exfiltration without crippling legitimate tasks. A frequent trap is choosing to disable the policy entirely or rely on user permissions, which undermines the security baseline. Remember the key principle: block by default, allow by exception. A useful memory tip is "ID the exception"—always use the device's hardware ID to create a temporary, targeted allowance rather than opening a permanent gap.

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

✓

Use a Group Policy to allow only the specific USB device by hardware ID, then remove the allowance after use

Option B is correct because it uses Group Policy to enforce a device installation restriction by hardware ID, allowing only the specific USB device while blocking all others. This maintains the security policy's intent by preventing unauthorized devices while granting temporary, auditable access. After use, removing the allowance restores the full block without domain-wide disruption.

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.

✗
Disable the USB blocking Group Policy for the entire domain
Why it's wrong here
Disabling the policy for the whole domain exposes all workstations to risk, not just the manager's.
✓
Use a Group Policy to allow only the specific USB device by hardware ID, then remove the allowance after use
Why this is correct
This maintains security by only allowing a known device, and you can revert the policy afterward.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Give the manager a company-approved USB drive and tell them to use it only once
Why it's wrong here
Without changing the block policy, the drive will still be blocked; instructions alone do not remediate the technical restriction.
✗
Create a local admin account on the manager's workstation and disable the USB block locally
Why it's wrong here
Local changes can be overridden by Group Policy and create a security gap; it is better to manage via policy.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The trap here is that candidates may choose Option A or D because they think disabling the block domain-wide or using a local admin account is simpler, but CompTIA A+ tests the principle of least privilege and maintaining centralized security controls through Group Policy.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Group Policy for device installation restrictions uses hardware IDs (e.g., USB\VID_xxxx&PID_xxxx) to allow or deny specific devices via the 'Allow installation of devices that match any of these device IDs' policy under Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Device Installation. The policy is enforced by the Plug and Play service, which checks the hardware ID against the allow/deny list before loading drivers. In a real-world scenario, an administrator can use PowerShell to retrieve the hardware ID of the USB drive (e.g., Get-PnpDevice -PresentOnly | Where-Object {$_.Class -eq 'USB'}) and apply the allowance via a temporary GPO linked to the manager's workstation OU.

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.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1202 question test?

PC Security Issue Remediation — This question tests PC Security Issue Remediation — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: Use a Group Policy to allow only the specific USB device by hardware ID, then remove the allowance after use — Option B is correct because it uses Group Policy to enforce a device installation restriction by hardware ID, allowing only the specific USB device while blocking all others. This maintains the security policy's intent by preventing unauthorized devices while granting temporary, auditable access. After use, removing the allowance restores the full block without domain-wide disruption.

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.

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.

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