- A
Password Policy – Minimum password length
Why wrong: Minimum password length controls password complexity, not lockout after failed logins.
- B
Account Lockout Policy – Account lockout threshold
This setting defines the number of failed logins allowed before the account is locked.
- C
User Rights Assignment – Deny log on locally
Why wrong: This controls which users can log on, not the number of failed attempts.
- D
Security Options – Interactive logon: Message text for users attempting to log on
Why wrong: This displays a legal notice, but does not enforce lockout.
Question 736 of 750
Account Lockout Threshold: How to Set After 5 Failed Attempts
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows security settings. 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.
During a security audit, you discover that a user’s Windows 10 device has allowed multiple failed login attempts without locking the account. Which policy should you adjust to enforce account lockout after 5 failed attempts?
Quick Answer
The answer is the Account lockout threshold policy, which you must set to 5 under the Account Lockout Policy section of Local Security Policy. This policy directly controls how many failed login attempts are allowed before the system locks the account, effectively stopping brute-force attacks by denying further access. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this concept tests your understanding of local security hardening—often appearing in scenario-based questions where a user’s device has been left vulnerable to repeated login attempts. A common trap is confusing the lockout threshold with the lockout duration or reset counter; remember that the threshold defines the *number* of failures, not the time. To lock after 5 attempts, you set the threshold to 5, then configure a lockout duration (e.g., 30 minutes) and a reset counter (e.g., 30 minutes) to complete the policy. Memory tip: think “5 strikes and you’re out” to recall that the threshold is the strike count.
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
✓
Account Lockout Policy – Account lockout threshold
The Account Lockout Policy – Account lockout threshold setting directly controls the number of failed logon attempts allowed before the account is locked. By setting this value to 5, the system will enforce a lockout after exactly five incorrect password entries, preventing further brute-force attempts until an administrator unlocks the account or the lockout duration expires.
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.
- ✗
Password Policy – Minimum password length
Why it's wrong here
Minimum password length controls password complexity, not lockout after failed logins.
- ✓
Account Lockout Policy – Account lockout threshold
Why this is correct
This setting defines the number of failed logins allowed before the account is locked.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
User Rights Assignment – Deny log on locally
Why it's wrong here
This controls which users can log on, not the number of failed attempts.
- ✗
Security Options – Interactive logon: Message text for users attempting to log on
Why it's wrong here
This displays a legal notice, but does not enforce lockout.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The CompTIA A+ exam often tests the distinction between password policy settings (which govern password complexity and length) and account lockout policy settings (which govern failed attempt limits), leading candidates to mistakenly choose Password Policy options when the question is about lockout enforcement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The account lockout threshold is stored in the SAM registry hive under HKLM\SECURITY\SAM\Domains\Account\Users and is enforced by the Netlogon service during interactive logon. When the threshold is exceeded, the badPwdCount attribute in Active Directory (for domain accounts) or the local SAM increments until the lockoutTime attribute is set, disabling the account. In a real-world scenario, setting this too low (e.g., 3) can cause user lockouts from accidental typos, while too high (e.g., 10) may allow successful brute-force attacks before lockout triggers.
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 security administrator must allow nursing staff to reach a patient records server while blocking access from the guest Wi-Fi VLAN. After applying an extended ACL, traffic is still blocked from nursing workstations. The ACL was applied outbound instead of inbound on the wrong interface. Questions like this test ACL direction and placement rules.
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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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: Account Lockout Policy – Account lockout threshold — The Account Lockout Policy – Account lockout threshold setting directly controls the number of failed logon attempts allowed before the account is locked. By setting this value to 5, the system will enforce a lockout after exactly five incorrect password entries, preventing further brute-force attempts until an administrator unlocks the account or the lockout duration expires.
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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