Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The first step in the IT change management process is to identify and propose the change. In this case, the technician notices a need (end-of-life network switches), so the appropriate action is toformally propose a change. This proposal would be documented and submitted for approval before any planning or implementation occurs.

According to the CompTIA A+ 220-1102 objectives under Operational Procedures (Domain 4.0), the change management process follows these typical steps:

Submit a change request (Propose the change)

Review and approval (Approve the change)

Planning and scheduling (Schedule the change)

Implementation

Documentation and review

Therefore, proposing the change is the correct first step in accordance with standard ITIL-based change management practices.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

When a technician exhausts all troubleshooting steps within their knowledge and the issue remains unresolved, the best practice is to escalate the issue to a higher-level technician or team. Additionally, the technician should clearly communicate the next steps to the customer to maintain transparency and reduce frustration. This ensures continuity of support and upholds customer satisfaction.

B. Dismissing the customer is unprofessional and violates proper customer service protocols.

C. Interrupting the customer and providing excuses escalates the tension and is inappropriate.

D. Continuing to ask questions without new troubleshooting steps wastes time and increases frustration.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Virtualization settings are typically found within the BIOS/UEFI firmware configuration. To prevent unauthorized users from changing these settings, the technician should set a BIOS password. This ensures only administrators with the password can access or modify BIOS settings, including virtualization support.

B. The guest account is a user-level feature in Windows and doesn’t control BIOS access.

C. A screen lock prevents casual access to the desktop but doesn’t protect firmware settings.

D. AutoRun controls how media and devices behave when inserted — unrelated to BIOS security.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Badge readers are electronic access control systems that require authorized users to scan a badge (e.g., RFID or magnetic strip cards) to gain access to restricted physical locations. These systemstypically log all access attempts—successful or denied—providing both detection and recording of access events.

A. Bollards are physical barriers to prevent vehicle access.

B. Video surveillance can record access visually but does not track identity unless integrated with access control systems.

D. A fence restricts access but doesn't detect or record who entered.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Event Viewer is the primary tool used to investigate system-level errors and logs, including BSODs. When a BSOD occurs, Windows logs the error codes and associated system behavior under “System” logs in Event Viewer. This allows the technician to review crash events, identify error codes (e.g., STOP codes), and pinpoint hardware or driver issues.

B. Performance Monitor is used for real-time performance tracking and trend analysis, not crash logs.

C. System Information displays system specs but not crash logs or events.

D. Device Manager shows device status and driver issues but doesn’t retain error logs related to BSODs.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

A management profile is used to enforce corporate policies on Apple devices. These profiles are installed via an MDM (Mobile Device Management) solution and control access, restrictions,Wi-Fi settings, app installations, and more. They’re critical for managing devices in a business environment.

A. The App Store allows software downloads but doesn’t control policies.

B. VPN configuration is used for secure remote connections, not enforcement of restrictions.

C. Apple ID is for personal account access to Apple services, not corporate device management.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

BitLocker To Go is a Microsoft encryption feature specifically designed for removable drives such as USB flash drives and external hard drives. It allows users to protect the data on these devices by requiring a password to decrypt the contents, thereby preventing unauthorized access in the event the device is lost or stolen.

A is correct because BitLocker To Go is directly tied to password-protecting removable media.

B and C are unrelated to BitLocker To Go; Secure Boot and VPN encryption are entirely different security layers.

D applies to BitLocker (not BitLocker To Go) and full disk encryption on internal drives using TPM.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Remote wipe is the best option to prevent unauthorized access to data when a mobile device is lost or stolen—especially if the user is unaware of the loss. It allows administrators or mobile device management (MDM) systems to remotely erase all data on the device, rendering it unusable for unauthorized users.

A. Encryption protects the data, but if the device remains powered and logged in, it may still be accessible.

C. Geofencing can restrict features based on location but does not erase data.

D. Facial recognition helps secure access but can be bypassed in some cases or fail in practical situations.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Since the issue has recurred after a temporary fix, it is likely a deeper or persistent configuration or server issue. Escalating the ticket to the next tier of support (e.g., network or system administrator) ensures further investigation and permanent resolution. Escalation is part of the standard support protocol when issues reoccur despite initial troubleshooting.

A. Rechecking remotely may confirm the issue, but doesn’t resolve it long term.

B. Providing documentation helps the user but doesn’t solve the root cause.

D. Keeping the ticket open is passive and doesn’t address the recurring issue.

First Chat Response:When the user mentions setting up a new router, the best initial response to maintain a helpful and professional tone is:

>Select reply:"I am happy to assist you today."

Second Chat Response:When the user states that they need to set up basic security settings:

>Select reply:"Is this the first router in your office?"

Third Chat Response:After learning it's a replacement router and the user is logged into the router's web page:

>Select reply:"The first thing you need to do is change the default password."

Fourth Chat Response:For the response about password settings:

>Select reply:"Create a new password with an uppercase, a lowercase, and a special character."

Fifth Chat Response:When the router prompts to reboot:

>Select reply:"Yes, reboot please."

Study Guide Reference: The CompTIA A+ Core 2 guide highlights the importance of changing default credentials and using strong password policies, particularly in SOHO environments where routers are often targeted.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts the user's files and demands a payment (ransom) for the decryption key. When a user receives a message stating that their files are encrypted and cannot be accessed, ransomware is the most likely cause. The attacker’s goal is to hold the data hostage until the victim pays to restore access.

A. Keylogger records keystrokes and doesn’t encrypt files.

C. Phishing is a social engineering tactic to gather credentials, not to encrypt data.

D. Cryptominer uses system resources to mine cryptocurrency, not encrypt files.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Multifactor authentication (MFA) is considered one of the most effective security measures for cloud environments. It requires users to verify their identity using two or more factors (e.g., password + phone app code), making it significantly harder for external attackers to gain access, even if the primary password is compromised.

B. Encryption is important for data protection but doesn’t prevent unauthorized logins.

C. Backups protect against data loss but don’t stop breaches.

D. Strong passwords are helpful but can still be phished or cracked — MFA adds a critical extra layer.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The su (substitute user) command is used in Linux to switch to another user account, most commonly to escalate privileges by switching to the root (administrator) account. It allows administrative tasks to be performed in a terminal session.

A. runas is a Windows command for executing a program under another user's context.

B. cmcl is not a valid Linux or administrative command.

C. net user is a Windows command for managing local user accounts.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

An Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) outlines the rules and guidelines for employees or users regarding the appropriate use of company systems, resources, and internet access. It defines permitted and prohibited activities, helping to mitigate security risks and establish clear behavioral expectations.

B. MNDA (Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement) deals with confidentiality, not usage guidelines.

C. DRM (Digital Rights Management) controls access to copyrighted content.

D. EULA (End User License Agreement) pertains to software licensing, not internal policies.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Mobile OS updates can sometimes cause compatibility issues with specific apps, including corporate email clients. The most likely resolution is to check for and apply an update to the affected application, especially if it hasn’t been updated to support the latest OS version.

B. Registering with MDM might be required for access but wouldn’t address app crashes due to incompatibility.

C. A third-party client might help, but it’s not the best first step if the default app is expected to work.

D. Clearing the cache can help resolve some minor issues, but updating the app directly addresses compatibility concerns.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

When a spreadsheet becomes very large, opening and processing it requires more memory (RAM). If the system doesn't have sufficient memory, it may fail to load the file properly. Upgrading or increasing the available RAM can resolve performance and loading issues with very large files.

A. Restore points roll back system settings, not individual file content.

C. Defragmentation optimizes disk performance but won’t help with memory issues.

D. Network speed has no effect if the file is stored and opened locally.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Once a malware incident has been confirmed, the immediate next step is to contain the threat. Quarantining infected systems prevents the malware from spreading to other devices and isolates the malicious code for further analysis or remediation.

B. Educating end users is important but occurs later in the incident response process.

C. Disabling System Restore is part of cleanup, not containment.

D. Updating and scanning should occur after the system is quarantined to prevent further infection or spread.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

Content filtering allows administrators to block or allow access to websites based on categories (e.g., social media, adult content, streaming). On a SOHO (Small Office/Home Office) router, this is often built-in or available via DNS-level filtering, and is the most appropriate method for enforcing browsing policies without needing to touch each individual device.

A. Secure management access protects router admin interfaces but doesn’t control user browsing.

B. Group Policy Editor is a Windows tool, not used on routers.

D. A firewall can block specific IPs or ports, but it doesn't categorize web content.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation From Exact Extract:

The amount of installed RAM is the key factor in determining whether a 64-bit OS is needed. A 32-bit operating system cannot effectively address more than 4GB of RAM. Since this system has 16GB of RAM, a 64-bit OS is required to utilize the full memory.

B. An Intel i7 CPU supports both 32-bit and 64-bit OS installations, so it alone doesn’t determine the need.

C. HDD size does not influence OS architecture selection.

D. Ethernet speed is a network consideration and not related to OS architecture.