This CC practice question tests your understanding of network security. 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 report that a user in the finance department cannot access a shared folder on the server. The same server is accessible from other departments. What is the most likely cause?
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.
The server is down
Why wrong: If the server were down, no one would be able to access it.
A firewall rule is blocking traffic from the finance VLAN to the server
This explains why only the finance department is affected.
The network cable is unplugged
Why wrong: A cable issue would affect the specific user, not the entire department.
The user's account is disabled
Why wrong: A disabled account would prevent access from any location.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
A firewall rule is blocking traffic from the finance VLAN to the server
The scenario describes a user in the finance department unable to access a shared folder on a server that is reachable from other departments. This points to a segmentation or access control issue specific to the finance VLAN. A firewall rule blocking traffic from the finance VLAN to the server is the most likely cause because it would selectively prevent access for that subnet while allowing other VLANs to reach the server, matching the symptom of partial connectivity.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
The server is down
Why it's wrong here
If the server were down, no one would be able to access it.
A firewall rule is blocking traffic from the finance VLAN to the server
Why this is correct
This explains why only the finance department is affected.
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.
The network cable is unplugged
Why it's wrong here
A cable issue would affect the specific user, not the entire department.
The user's account is disabled
Why it's wrong here
A disabled account would prevent access from any location.
Common exam traps
ISC2 often tests the concept of VLAN segmentation and firewall rules by presenting a symptom of partial connectivity, leading candidates to mistakenly focus on client-side issues (like a disabled account or cable problem) rather than network-layer access controls.
Detailed technical explanation
In a VLAN-segmented network, inter-VLAN traffic is typically controlled by a Layer 3 device (router or firewall) using access control lists (ACLs) or firewall rules. A common misconfiguration is an implicit deny rule that blocks traffic from a specific VLAN to a server, while allowing other VLANs. This can be verified by checking the firewall rule base or using tools like `tracert` or `pathping` to see where traffic is dropped. In real-world scenarios, such rules are often applied to isolate sensitive departments like finance for security compliance.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A security analyst at a medium-sized enterprise encounters this scenario during an investigation or architecture review. The correct answer reflects best practice for the specific threat or control described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Security exam questions test whether you can match controls to threats in context — not just recall definitions.
What to study next
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FAQ
Network Security — This question tests Network Security — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: A firewall rule is blocking traffic from the finance VLAN to the server — The scenario describes a user in the finance department unable to access a shared folder on a server that is reachable from other departments. This points to a segmentation or access control issue specific to the finance VLAN. A firewall rule blocking traffic from the finance VLAN to the server is the most likely cause because it would selectively prevent access for that subnet while allowing other VLANs to reach the server, matching the symptom of partial connectivity.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 30, 2026
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