- A
Reliability Monitor
Why wrong: Reliability Monitor tracks system stability events, not detailed security logon logs.
- B
Performance Monitor
Why wrong: Performance Monitor tracks performance counters, not security events.
- C
Event Viewer
Event Viewer's Security log records all logon events, providing the necessary audit trail.
- D
Group Policy Editor
Why wrong: Group Policy Editor configures policies, but does not display logs.
Question 263 of 750
How to Review User Logon Attempts in Security Logs
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of windows administrative tools. 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 security incident occurred on a Windows 10 workstation, and you need to review detailed logs of user logon attempts, including successful and failed logins, to identify unauthorized access. Which tool should you use to view these security logs?
Quick Answer
The answer is Event Viewer, the built-in Windows tool used to review user logon attempts in security logs. Event Viewer is correct because it hosts the Windows Security log, which records every logon event—both successful and failed logins—along with precise timestamps, user account details, and source IP addresses when applicable. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your understanding of auditing and incident response procedures; a common trap is confusing Event Viewer with Task Manager or Resource Monitor, which do not log historical security events. Remember that the Security log is the only log that tracks logon success and failure by default, and you can filter by Event ID 4624 for successful logons and 4625 for failed attempts. A helpful memory tip is “4624 for the door open, 4625 for the door locked”—these IDs are your fast track to identifying unauthorized access in the logs.
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
✓
Event Viewer
Event Viewer is the correct tool because it provides access to Windows Security logs, which record detailed information about user logon attempts, including both successful (Event ID 4624) and failed (Event ID 4625) logins. These logs are essential for forensic analysis of unauthorized access on a Windows 10 workstation.
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.
- ✗
Reliability Monitor
Why it's wrong here
Reliability Monitor tracks system stability events, not detailed security logon logs.
- ✗
Performance Monitor
Why it's wrong here
Performance Monitor tracks performance counters, not security events.
- ✓
Event Viewer
Why this is correct
Event Viewer's Security log records all logon events, providing the necessary audit trail.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Group Policy Editor
Why it's wrong here
Group Policy Editor configures policies, but does not display logs.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The A+ exam often tests the distinction between tools that view logs (Event Viewer) versus tools that configure settings (Group Policy Editor) or monitor performance (Performance Monitor), leading candidates to confuse administrative utilities.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Windows Security logs are generated by the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS) and stored in %SystemRoot%\System32\winevt\Logs\Security.evtx. Event IDs such as 4624 (successful logon) and 4625 (failed logon) include critical details like logon type (e.g., interactive, network, remote desktop), source IP address, and account name, which are vital for identifying brute-force attacks or lateral movement. In a real-world scenario, an analyst might filter for multiple failed logon events (4625) from a single IP to detect a password-spraying attack.
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.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Windows Administrative Tools — This question tests Windows Administrative Tools — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Event Viewer — Event Viewer is the correct tool because it provides access to Windows Security logs, which record detailed information about user logon attempts, including both successful (Event ID 4624) and failed (Event ID 4625) logins. These logs are essential for forensic analysis of unauthorized access on a Windows 10 workstation.
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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