- A
Install a surveillance camera in the storage area.
Why wrong: Cameras can deter theft but do not protect the data if drives are taken; the data is still readable.
- B
Require a smart card to access the storage area.
Why wrong: Access control limits who can enter but does not address the vulnerability of readable drives.
- C
Use a degausser to erase the hard drives before disposal.
Degaussing renders the data unrecoverable, eliminating the risk even if drives are stolen.
- D
Apply tamper-evident seals to the server chassis.
Why wrong: Seals show if the server was opened but do not protect data on drives that are removed.
Question 31 of 750
Degaussing Hard Drives Before Disposal
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of physical security controls. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
An organization experiences a data breach when an attacker physically removes hard drives from a decommissioned server that was placed in a storage area without being properly sanitized. What physical security control should have been implemented?
Quick Answer
The correct answer is to use a degausser to erase the hard drives before disposal. Degaussing works by exposing magnetic storage media to a powerful, alternating magnetic field, which randomizes the magnetic domains on the platters and renders all previously stored data completely unrecoverable. This physical security control is essential because simply deleting files or formatting a drive leaves data remnants that can be recovered with forensic tools, as demonstrated by the breach scenario. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this concept tests your understanding of proper disposal procedures within the full lifecycle of physical media security, often appearing in questions about decommissioning assets. A common trap is confusing degaussing with software-based wiping—remember that degaussing physically destroys the drive’s magnetic structure, making it unusable, while wiping preserves the drive for reuse. Memory tip: “Degauss to daze the data” — the magnetic field leaves the drive in a permanently blank state.
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 degausser to erase the hard drives before disposal.
Option C is correct because the core issue is that the hard drives were not properly sanitized before disposal, allowing an attacker to recover data from them. A degausser is a physical security control that uses a strong magnetic field to erase data on magnetic media, such as hard disk drives (HDDs), rendering the drives unreadable and unrecoverable. This directly addresses the root cause of the breach by ensuring data is destroyed before the hardware leaves a secure environment.
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.
- ✗
Install a surveillance camera in the storage area.
Why it's wrong here
Cameras can deter theft but do not protect the data if drives are taken; the data is still readable.
- ✗
Require a smart card to access the storage area.
Why it's wrong here
Access control limits who can enter but does not address the vulnerability of readable drives.
- ✓
Use a degausser to erase the hard drives before disposal.
Why this is correct
Degaussing renders the data unrecoverable, eliminating the risk even if drives are stolen.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Apply tamper-evident seals to the server chassis.
Why it's wrong here
Seals show if the server was opened but do not protect data on drives that are removed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between preventive controls (like sanitization) and detective or deterrent controls (like cameras or seals), leading candidates to choose a control that monitors or restricts access rather than the one that directly eliminates the data vulnerability.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
Seals show if the server was opened but do not protect data on drives that are removed.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
A degausser works by generating a powerful, alternating magnetic field that realigns the magnetic domains on the platters of a hard disk drive, effectively destroying all data and the drive's servo tracks, making the drive unusable. This process is distinct from software-based wiping or overwriting, which can be bypassed on damaged drives or if only a single pass is used; degaussing is a physical destruction method that meets NIST SP 800-88 Clear and Purge standards for magnetic media. In a real-world scenario, organizations often combine degaussing with physical shredding for high-security environments, as degaussed drives may still have residual data recoverable with advanced forensic tools if not fully demagnetized.
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.
- →
Physical Security Controls — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Physical Security Controls practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 220-1202 questions
750 questions across all exam domains
- →
CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
220-1202 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 220-1202 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Windows OS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows OS Features and Tools.
Windows Settings and Control Panel practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Settings and Control Panel.
Windows Command-Line Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Command-Line Tools.
Windows Administrative Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Administrative Tools.
macOS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to macOS Features and Tools.
Linux Commands and File Permissions practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Linux Commands and File Permissions.
Mobile OS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Mobile OS Features and Tools.
Virtualization and Cloud Technologies practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Virtualization and Cloud Technologies.
Physical Security Controls practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Physical Security Controls.
Logical Security Concepts practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Logical Security Concepts.
Wireless Security Protocols practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Wireless Security Protocols.
Malware Types and Removal practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Malware Types and Removal.
Practice this exam
Start a free 220-1202 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 220-1202 question test?
Physical Security Controls — This question tests Physical Security Controls — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use a degausser to erase the hard drives before disposal. — Option C is correct because the core issue is that the hard drives were not properly sanitized before disposal, allowing an attacker to recover data from them. A degausser is a physical security control that uses a strong magnetic field to erase data on magnetic media, such as hard disk drives (HDDs), rendering the drives unreadable and unrecoverable. This directly addresses the root cause of the breach by ensuring data is destroyed before the hardware leaves a secure environment.
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 →
Keep practising
More 220-1202 practice questions
- During a Windows 10 deployment, you need to ensure that a specific Group Policy setting is applied to a computer before…
- After installing a new printer driver, a user's Windows 11 computer crashes with a blue screen error every time they try…
- A user reports that their Windows 10 computer is infected with a virus that keeps reinstalling itself after removal. Wha…
- A customer reports that their Windows 10 laptop is displaying pop-up ads even when no browser is open. They suspect a ma…
- A technician is configuring a new Windows 10 workstation for a user who handles sensitive financial data. The company po…
- A technician is responding to a security incident where an employee's credentials were used to access a server without a…
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.
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.
Sign in to join the discussion.