- A
Disable the smart card and provide a temporary PIN as requested.
Why wrong: Acting without verification could grant access to an imposter.
- B
Ask the employee to visit the security office in person with a photo ID.
In-person verification with a photo ID ensures the request is legitimate before making changes.
- C
Reset the smart card remotely and test it with a badge reader.
Why wrong: Resetting without verification still risks unauthorized access.
- D
Send a temporary PIN via email to the employee's company address.
Why wrong: Email can be intercepted; also, identity is not confirmed.
Question 249 of 750
Verify Identity Before Disabling Smart Card to Prevent Social Engineering
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.
A helpdesk technician receives a call from an employee who says their smart card stopped working for building access. The employee is in a hurry and asks the technician to remotely disable the card and issue a temporary PIN for the day. What should the technician do first?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"first"Why it matters: Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
Quick Answer
The correct first step is to ask the employee to visit the security office in person with a photo ID. This action directly addresses the need to verify identity before disabling a smart card to prevent social engineering, as a caller’s urgency and request for a temporary PIN are classic red flags for an impersonation attack. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of physical security and social engineering countermeasures, often appearing as a trap where the “helpful” option—remotely disabling the card—seems efficient but violates protocol. A common memory tip is “Verify first, disable last,” reminding you that identity confirmation must always precede any access change, no matter how convincing the caller sounds.
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
✓
Ask the employee to visit the security office in person with a photo ID.
Option B is correct because smart card credentials for physical access are typically managed by a separate physical security system (e.g., an access control server), not the helpdesk's IT identity management system. The technician cannot remotely disable the card or issue a temporary PIN without proper authorization and verification of the caller's identity. The standard procedure is to require in-person verification with a photo ID at the security office to prevent social engineering attacks.
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.
- ✗
Disable the smart card and provide a temporary PIN as requested.
Why it's wrong here
Acting without verification could grant access to an imposter.
- ✓
Ask the employee to visit the security office in person with a photo ID.
Why this is correct
In-person verification with a photo ID ensures the request is legitimate before making changes.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "first" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Reset the smart card remotely and test it with a badge reader.
Why it's wrong here
Resetting without verification still risks unauthorized access.
- ✗
Send a temporary PIN via email to the employee's company address.
Why it's wrong here
Email can be intercepted; also, identity is not confirmed.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume the helpdesk has full control over all credential types (logical and physical) and can perform remote operations on smart cards, when in fact physical access systems are usually separate and require in-person identity verification.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Smart card authentication for physical access typically uses a PKI-based system where the card holds a private key and certificate. The access control reader validates the card's certificate against a CRL or OCSP responder, but the helpdesk does not have direct access to the physical access control system (PACS) management interface. In real-world scenarios, organizations enforce a 'two-person rule' or require a manager's approval before any credential change to physical access systems, as these systems are often air-gapped from the corporate network.
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 junior network technician can log in to a core router but cannot reach the enable prompt or configuration mode. The AAA server is authenticating the login — but the authorisation policy only grants privilege level 1, not 15. Authentication (who you are) is working; authorisation (what you can do) is not.
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: Ask the employee to visit the security office in person with a photo ID. — Option B is correct because smart card credentials for physical access are typically managed by a separate physical security system (e.g., an access control server), not the helpdesk's IT identity management system. The technician cannot remotely disable the card or issue a temporary PIN without proper authorization and verification of the caller's identity. The standard procedure is to require in-person verification with a photo ID at the security office to prevent social engineering attacks.
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: "first". Order matters here. You are being tested on which action comes before the others — not which action is generally useful.
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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