- A
Remove the doorstop and close the door.
This immediately restores the physical security of the server room.
- B
Document the incident and report it to the security manager.
Why wrong: Reporting is important but should come after securing the door to prevent unauthorized access in the meantime.
- C
Reprimand the employee who propped the door.
Why wrong: Discipline is a management action; the technician's priority is to fix the physical security breach.
- D
Install a door alarm that sounds if the door is open too long.
Why wrong: This is a future preventive measure but does not address the current open door.
Question 169 of 750
Immediate Action When a Secured Door Is Propped Open
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of physical security controls. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
During a routine security walkthrough, you notice that an employee has propped open a secured door to the server room with a doorstop to allow easy access for a cleaning crew. What is the most immediate action you should take?
Quick Answer
The answer is to remove the doorstop and close the door immediately. Propping open a secured door bypasses all physical access controls, such as electronic locks or badge readers, creating an immediate security vulnerability where unauthorized individuals could enter the server room undetected. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of physical security controls and incident response priorities—specifically that restoring the security control takes precedence over reporting or confronting the employee. A common trap is choosing to first notify a supervisor or confront the employee, but the exam emphasizes that the most immediate action must address the active risk. Remember the memory tip: “Close first, report second”—your priority is always to eliminate the breach before investigating the cause.
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
✓
Remove the doorstop and close the door.
The immediate priority is to restore the physical security control by removing the doorstop and closing the door. A propped-open door bypasses the access control system (e.g., card reader, electronic lock), allowing unauthorized entry to the server room. This action directly mitigates the active vulnerability without delay.
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.
- ✓
Remove the doorstop and close the door.
Why this is correct
This immediately restores the physical security of the server room.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Document the incident and report it to the security manager.
Why it's wrong here
Reporting is important but should come after securing the door to prevent unauthorized access in the meantime.
- ✗
Reprimand the employee who propped the door.
Why it's wrong here
Discipline is a management action; the technician's priority is to fix the physical security breach.
- ✗
Install a door alarm that sounds if the door is open too long.
Why it's wrong here
This is a future preventive measure but does not address the current open door.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA often tests the distinction between immediate corrective action and administrative follow-up, trapping candidates who choose documentation or reprimand over directly closing the security gap.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Physical security controls like mantraps, electronic locks, and access logs rely on the door being closed and latched to enforce authentication. A doorstop creates a 'fail-open' state, bypassing the electronic strike or magnetic lock, which typically requires a valid credential (e.g., RFID card, PIN) to release. In a real-world scenario, an attacker could tailgate or simply walk in while the door is propped, compromising the entire security perimeter.
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.
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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: Remove the doorstop and close the door. — The immediate priority is to restore the physical security control by removing the doorstop and closing the door. A propped-open door bypasses the access control system (e.g., card reader, electronic lock), allowing unauthorized entry to the server room. This action directly mitigates the active vulnerability without delay.
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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