- A
WPA2-PSK (TKIP)
Why wrong: Incorrect. TKIP uses RC4, not AES, and is deprecated due to security vulnerabilities.
- B
WPA2-PSK (AES)
Why wrong: Incorrect. While this uses AES, WPA3-SAE is more secure and should be preferred when available.
- C
WPA3-SAE
Correct. WPA3-SAE uses AES encryption and provides stronger security than WPA2, making it the best choice.
- D
WEP
Why wrong: Incorrect. WEP is insecure and does not use AES; it should never be used in a modern network.
Question 145 of 750
WPA3-SAE vs WPA2-PSK AES: Choosing the Strongest Encryption
This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of wireless security protocols. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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's security policy requires all wireless traffic to be encrypted with AES. A technician is configuring a new access point and sees the following options: WPA2-PSK (TKIP), WPA2-PSK (AES), WPA3-SAE, and WEP. Which option should the technician select?
Quick Answer
The answer is WPA3-SAE because it is the only option that satisfies the company’s AES encryption requirement while offering the highest security standard. WPA3-SAE inherently uses AES-CCMP encryption and adds Simultaneous Authentication of Equals, which provides forward secrecy and robust protection against offline dictionary attacks—capabilities that WPA2-PSK (AES) lacks. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this question tests your ability to prioritize both encryption strength and protocol features; a common trap is choosing WPA2-PSK (AES) since it also uses AES, but the policy’s demand for the strongest security points to WPA3-SAE. Remember the memory tip: “WPA3 beats WPA2—SAE seals the deal.”
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-SAE
C is correct because WPA3-SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) is the only option that uses AES encryption by default and meets the company's security policy requirement for AES encryption. WPA3-SAE replaces the pre-shared key (PSK) with a more secure handshake and mandates AES-CCMP or AES-GCMP, ensuring compliance with the policy.
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-PSK (TKIP)
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. TKIP uses RC4, not AES, and is deprecated due to security vulnerabilities.
- ✗
WPA2-PSK (AES)
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. While this uses AES, WPA3-SAE is more secure and should be preferred when available.
- ✓
WPA3-SAE
- ✗
WEP
Why it's wrong here
Incorrect. WEP is insecure and does not use AES; it should never be used in a modern network.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
CompTIA A+ often tests the misconception that WPA2-PSK (AES) is the best choice because it uses AES, but the trap here is that the question asks which option the technician should select, and WPA3-SAE is the most secure and modern protocol that also meets the AES requirement, making it the correct answer over the older WPA2 variant.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
WPA3-SAE uses the Dragonfly handshake (based on Diffie-Hellman key exchange) to provide forward secrecy, meaning that even if the pre-shared key is compromised, past session keys remain secure. Under the hood, WPA3 mandates AES-CCMP (128-bit) or AES-GCMP (256-bit) for encryption, ensuring compliance with AES-only policies. In real-world scenarios, selecting WPA2-PSK (AES) might still pass a compliance check, but WPA3-SAE is the correct choice for future-proofing and stronger authentication.
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
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.
- →
Wireless Security Protocols — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
- →
Wireless Security Protocols practice questions
Targeted practice on this topic area only
- →
All 220-1202 questions
750 questions across all exam domains
- →
CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 study guide
Full concept coverage aligned to exam objectives
- →
220-1202 practice test guide
How to use practice tests most effectively before exam day
Related practice questions
Related 220-1202 practice-question pages
Use these pages to review the topic behind this question. This is how one missed question becomes focused revision.
Windows OS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows OS Features and Tools.
Windows Settings and Control Panel practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Settings and Control Panel.
Windows Command-Line Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Command-Line Tools.
Windows Administrative Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Windows Administrative Tools.
macOS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to macOS Features and Tools.
Linux Commands and File Permissions practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Linux Commands and File Permissions.
Mobile OS Features and Tools practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Mobile OS Features and Tools.
Virtualization and Cloud Technologies practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Virtualization and Cloud Technologies.
Physical Security Controls practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Physical Security Controls.
Logical Security Concepts practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Logical Security Concepts.
Wireless Security Protocols practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Wireless Security Protocols.
Malware Types and Removal practice questions
Practise 220-1202 questions linked to Malware Types and Removal.
Practice this exam
Start a free 220-1202 practice session
Short sessions build daily habit. Longer sessions build exam-day stamina. Try a timed session to simulate real conditions.
FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this 220-1202 question test?
Wireless Security Protocols — This question tests Wireless Security Protocols — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: WPA3-SAE — C is correct because WPA3-SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) is the only option that uses AES encryption by default and meets the company's security policy requirement for AES encryption. WPA3-SAE replaces the pre-shared key (PSK) with a more secure handshake and mandates AES-CCMP or AES-GCMP, ensuring compliance with the policy.
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
2 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 company's IT policy requires that all wireless traffic be encrypted using the strongest available protocol. A technician is configuring a new access point that supports WPA3-SAE, WPA2-PSK with AES, and WPA2-PSK with TKIP. Which configuration meets the policy?
easy- A.WPA2-PSK with TKIP.
- B.WPA2-PSK with AES.
- ✓ C.WPA3-SAE.
- D.A mixed mode of WPA2 and WPA3.
Why C: WPA3-SAE (Simultaneous Authentication of Equals) is the strongest available wireless encryption protocol among the options, as it replaces the pre-shared key (PSK) model with a more secure handshake that provides forward secrecy and is resistant to offline dictionary attacks. The IT policy requires the strongest available protocol, and WPA3-SAE is superior to both WPA2-PSK variants, making option C the correct choice.
Variation 2. A company's security policy mandates that all wireless traffic must be encrypted using a protocol that is resistant to KRACK attacks. The current network uses WPA2-PSK with AES. Which of the following upgrades should be implemented to meet this requirement?
hard- A.Change the encryption from AES to TKIP.
- B.Enable WPA2-Enterprise with 802.1X.
- ✓ C.Upgrade to WPA3-Personal.
- D.Implement MAC address filtering.
Why C: WPA3-Personal replaces the Pre-Shared Key (PSK) handshake with Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE), which is resistant to offline dictionary attacks and the KRACK vulnerability that exploits the 4-way handshake in WPA2. Since the policy requires encryption resistant to KRACK attacks, upgrading to WPA3-Personal directly addresses this requirement.
Keep practising
More 220-1202 practice questions
- During a Windows 10 deployment, you need to ensure that a specific Group Policy setting is applied to a computer before…
- After installing a new printer driver, a user's Windows 11 computer crashes with a blue screen error every time they try…
- A user reports that their Windows 10 computer is infected with a virus that keeps reinstalling itself after removal. Wha…
- A customer reports that their Windows 10 laptop is displaying pop-up ads even when no browser is open. They suspect a ma…
- A technician is configuring a new Windows 10 workstation for a user who handles sensitive financial data. The company po…
- A technician is responding to a security incident where an employee's credentials were used to access a server without a…
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.
Question Discussion
Share a tip, memory trick, or ask about the reasoning behind this question. Do not post real exam questions, leaked content, braindumps, or copyrighted exam material. Comments are moderated and may be removed without notice.
Sign in to join the discussion.