- A
WPA2 with TKIP encryption and SSID broadcast disabled.
Why wrong: TKIP is outdated and insecure; hiding SSID does not prevent determined attackers from discovering the network.
- B
WPA3 with AES encryption and MAC address filtering.
WPA3 with AES provides strong encryption, and MAC filtering restricts access to approved devices.
- C
WEP with 128-bit key and a strong password.
Why wrong: WEP is easily cracked and provides inadequate security regardless of key length.
- D
Open network with a captive portal requiring employee login.
Why wrong: Open networks have no encryption; a captive portal only authenticates users but data is transmitted in plaintext.
Question 176 of 750
Wireless Security: WPA3 with AES and MAC Filtering
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of logical security concepts. 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 technician is setting up a new wireless network for a small office. They want to ensure that only company-issued devices can connect, and that data transmitted over the air is encrypted. Which combination of settings should they use?
Quick Answer
The correct combination is WPA3 with AES encryption and MAC address filtering. This works because WPA3 with AES provides the strongest available encryption for wireless data, ensuring confidentiality and integrity of transmitted information, while MAC address filtering acts as an access control list to restrict network association to only pre-approved devices. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of layered security—encryption protects data in transit, and filtering restricts physical access—and a common trap is choosing WEP or WPA-TKIP, which are deprecated and insecure. Remember that WPA3 is the current standard, AES is the mandatory cipher, and MAC filtering is an additional, not primary, control. A useful memory tip: "WPA3 + AES = encryption; MAC filter = who gets in."
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
✓
WPA3 with AES encryption and MAC address filtering.
Option B is correct because WPA3 with AES encryption provides the strongest wireless security standard, ensuring robust data confidentiality and integrity. MAC address filtering adds an additional layer of access control, allowing only company-issued devices (with pre-approved MAC addresses) to connect, which aligns with the requirement to restrict access to authorized devices.
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.
- ✗
WPA2 with TKIP encryption and SSID broadcast disabled.
Why it's wrong here
TKIP is outdated and insecure; hiding SSID does not prevent determined attackers from discovering the network.
- ✓
WPA3 with AES encryption and MAC address filtering.
Why this is correct
WPA3 with AES provides strong encryption, and MAC filtering restricts access to approved devices.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
WEP with 128-bit key and a strong password.
Why it's wrong here
WEP is easily cracked and provides inadequate security regardless of key length.
- ✗
Open network with a captive portal requiring employee login.
Why it's wrong here
Open networks have no encryption; a captive portal only authenticates users but data is transmitted in plaintext.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
A common misconception is that disabling SSID broadcast or using MAC filtering alone provides strong security, but the trap here is that encryption (WPA3 with AES) is the primary defense, and MAC filtering is only a supplementary control, not a replacement for encryption.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
WPA3 uses Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) handshake, replacing WPA2's four-way handshake, to resist offline dictionary attacks and provide forward secrecy. MAC address filtering operates at Layer 2, but it can be bypassed by MAC spoofing; however, when combined with WPA3's strong authentication, it raises the bar for unauthorized access. In a real-world small office, this combination ensures compliance with security policies while maintaining usability for company devices.
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 network engineer segments a warehouse floor into three subnets: 20 scanners, 5 printers, and 2 management hosts. Picking the wrong mask wastes addresses or leaves too few usable hosts. Exam questions test whether you can apply CIDR notation, calculate block size, and identify the correct usable-host range for a given prefix.
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
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Logical Security Concepts — This question tests Logical Security Concepts — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: WPA3 with AES encryption and MAC address filtering. — Option B is correct because WPA3 with AES encryption provides the strongest wireless security standard, ensuring robust data confidentiality and integrity. MAC address filtering adds an additional layer of access control, allowing only company-issued devices (with pre-approved MAC addresses) to connect, which aligns with the requirement to restrict access to authorized devices.
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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