- A
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Why wrong: IaaS provides virtualized hardware, but the company would still need to install and manage the email server software, which is not a simple migration.
- B
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Why wrong: PaaS provides a platform for application development, not a ready-to-use email service.
- C
Software as a Service (SaaS)
SaaS provides a fully managed application, such as cloud-based email, where the provider handles security, including encryption at rest and in transit.
- D
Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
Why wrong: DaaS provides virtual desktops, not a specific application like email.
Question 285 of 750
SaaS Email Encryption at Rest and in Transit
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of virtualization and cloud technologies. 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.
A company is moving its on-premises email server to a cloud-based service. The IT manager is concerned about data security and wants to ensure that the email data is encrypted both at rest and in transit. Which cloud service model is the company most likely using?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"most likely"Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Quick Answer
The answer is Software as a Service (SaaS). This is the correct choice because SaaS delivers a complete, ready-to-use application—like cloud-based email—where the provider handles all underlying infrastructure, platform, and software, including the implementation of encryption both at rest and in transit. When a company migrates its on-premises email server to a cloud service, it is consuming email as a managed application, which is the defining characteristic of SaaS; PaaS or IaaS would still require the company to build and secure the email server itself. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish cloud service models by their level of management responsibility, with a common trap being to confuse SaaS with IaaS because both involve “cloud,” but only SaaS provides the finished application. A helpful memory tip: think of SaaS as “Software you simply Subscribe to”—you use it, you don’t build it, and the provider handles all security layers like encryption.
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
✓
Software as a Service (SaaS)
The company is moving its on-premises email server to a cloud-based service, which means they are using a complete email application delivered over the internet. Software as a Service (SaaS) provides ready-to-use applications like email (e.g., Microsoft 365, Google Workspace) where the provider manages the infrastructure, platform, and application, including encryption at rest (e.g., AES-256) and in transit (e.g., TLS 1.2/1.3). This aligns with the IT manager's concern about data security without the company needing to manage underlying servers or platforms.
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.
- ✗
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Why it's wrong here
IaaS provides virtualized hardware, but the company would still need to install and manage the email server software, which is not a simple migration.
- ✗
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Why it's wrong here
PaaS provides a platform for application development, not a ready-to-use email service.
- ✓
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Why this is correct
SaaS provides a fully managed application, such as cloud-based email, where the provider handles security, including encryption at rest and in transit.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Desktop as a Service (DaaS)
Why it's wrong here
DaaS provides virtual desktops, not a specific application like email.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The exam often tests the distinction between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS by presenting a scenario where a specific application (like email) is being moved, and the trap is that candidates confuse the underlying infrastructure (IaaS) with the service model that actually provides the application (SaaS).
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
In SaaS, encryption at rest is typically implemented using provider-managed keys with AES-256 encryption for stored data, while encryption in transit uses TLS protocols (e.g., TLS 1.3) to secure SMTP, IMAP, and POP3 communications. A subtle behavior is that SaaS providers often handle key management and rotation automatically, but customers may have options to use their own keys (BYOK) for compliance. In a real-world scenario, a company migrating from Exchange on-premises to Exchange Online (SaaS) would rely on Microsoft's built-in encryption for data at rest in datacenters and for emails in transit between clients and servers.
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.
Quick reference
Symmetric Encryption Algorithm Comparison
| Algorithm | Key Size | Block Size | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AES-128 | 128-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | NIST approved; WPA3, TLS |
| AES-256 | 256-bit | 128-bit | Current standard | Preferred for sensitive / govt data |
| 3DES | 112-bit effective | 64-bit | Deprecated (2023) | Replaced by AES |
| DES | 56-bit | 64-bit | Broken | Cracked in < 24 h; never deploy |
| ChaCha20 | 256-bit | Stream cipher | Current | TLS 1.3, WireGuard |
What to study next
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Virtualization and Cloud Technologies — This question tests Virtualization and Cloud Technologies — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Software as a Service (SaaS) — The company is moving its on-premises email server to a cloud-based service, which means they are using a complete email application delivered over the internet. Software as a Service (SaaS) provides ready-to-use applications like email (e.g., Microsoft 365, Google Workspace) where the provider manages the infrastructure, platform, and application, including encryption at rest (e.g., AES-256) and in transit (e.g., TLS 1.2/1.3). This aligns with the IT manager's concern about data security without the company needing to manage underlying servers or platforms.
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: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
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
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