- A
Local Users and Groups (lusrmgr.msc)
Why wrong: This tool manages user accounts and groups but does not configure password policies.
- B
Local Security Policy (secpol.msc)
This tool provides access to Account Policies, including password complexity and expiration settings.
- C
Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
Why wrong: This manages firewall rules, not password policies.
- D
Device Manager
Why wrong: Device Manager handles hardware drivers, not security policies.
Question 152 of 750
How to Enforce Strong Password Policies on a Standalone Windows 10 Workstation
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 small business wants to ensure that all employees use strong passwords that include uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters, and that passwords expire every 60 days. Which tool should be used to enforce these settings on a standalone Windows 10 workstation?
Quick Answer
The answer is the Local Security Policy tool, accessed by running secpol.msc. This is the correct choice because on a standalone Windows 10 workstation—one not joined to a domain—the Local Security Policy is the built-in Microsoft Management Console snap-in that directly controls account policies, including password complexity requirements and expiration intervals. By navigating to Security Settings, Account Policies, and Password Policy, you can enable “Password must meet complexity requirements” to enforce uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters, and set “Maximum password age” to 60 days. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding of local policy management versus domain-based Group Policy; a common trap is confusing secpol.msc with gpedit.msc, but remember that while the Local Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) can also configure these settings, the exam specifically expects secpol.msc as the dedicated tool for security policies on standalone systems. A helpful memory tip: think “SECurity POLicy” for SECPOL—it’s the direct path to hardening a local machine’s passwords.
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
✓
Local Security Policy (secpol.msc)
The Local Security Policy (secpol.msc) is the correct tool because it provides a centralized interface to configure password policies, such as minimum password length, complexity requirements (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, special characters), and maximum password age (e.g., 60 days). These settings are enforced locally on a standalone Windows 10 workstation through the Security Settings node under Account Policies.
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.
- ✗
Local Users and Groups (lusrmgr.msc)
Why it's wrong here
This tool manages user accounts and groups but does not configure password policies.
- ✓
Local Security Policy (secpol.msc)
Why this is correct
This tool provides access to Account Policies, including password complexity and expiration settings.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Windows Defender Firewall with Advanced Security
Why it's wrong here
This manages firewall rules, not password policies.
- ✗
Device Manager
Why it's wrong here
Device Manager handles hardware drivers, not security policies.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ often tests the distinction between user account management tools (lusrmgr.msc) and security policy enforcement tools (secpol.msc), leading candidates to mistakenly choose Local Users and Groups for password policy configuration.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Password policies configured via secpol.msc are stored in the local security database (SAM registry hive) and enforced by the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS). The 'Password must meet complexity requirements' setting enforces a minimum of three of four character types (uppercase, lowercase, digits, non-alphabetic) and a minimum length of 6 characters by default, though this can be adjusted. In a domain environment, these policies would be overridden by Group Policy from Active Directory, but on a standalone workstation, secpol.msc is the authoritative tool.
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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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: Local Security Policy (secpol.msc) — The Local Security Policy (secpol.msc) is the correct tool because it provides a centralized interface to configure password policies, such as minimum password length, complexity requirements (uppercase, lowercase, numbers, special characters), and maximum password age (e.g., 60 days). These settings are enforced locally on a standalone Windows 10 workstation through the Security Settings node under Account Policies.
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 user calls the help desk complaining that they cannot change their Windows 10 password even though they know the current password. The user is a member of the 'Users' group on a domain-joined computer. What is the most likely cause?
medium- A.The user does not have 'Change Password' permission on their own account.
- B.The 'User must change password at next logon' flag is set.
- ✓ C.The 'Password must meet complexity requirements' policy is preventing the new password from being accepted.
- D.The local Security Accounts Manager (SAM) database is corrupted.
Why C: Option C is correct because the user is a member of the 'Users' group on a domain-joined computer, which means password changes are subject to the domain's password policy, not local policies. The 'Password must meet complexity requirements' policy is enforced by the domain controller via Group Policy, and if the new password fails to meet those requirements (e.g., insufficient length, lack of uppercase/lowercase/digits/special characters), the change will be rejected even though the user knows the current password. This is the most likely cause given the user can authenticate but cannot set a compliant new password.
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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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