Explanation:

✅ Correct Answer: D. Update the file allocation system to exFAT
The error message on the Windows machine that says the drive must be formatted before it can be used typically happens because the external USB hard disk is formatted with a Linux file system like ext4, which Windows does not natively recognize. Since the disk works fine on Linux but not on Windows, the solution is to reformat the drive using a file system that both operating systems support. The best choice is exFAT, which allows large file sizes and full read/write compatibility across Windows, macOS, and Linux (with the proper drivers). Before doing this, the user should back up all data on the Linux machine because reformatting the drive will erase its contents. Once reformatted, the user can copy the data back onto the external drive and successfully use it on the Windows system.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Configure Windows firewall to allow data from Linux systems has no effect on reading file systems from USB drives—it only relates to network traffic.

B. Replace the cable with Windows-supported hardware is unnecessary because the issue is with file system compatibility, not hardware.

C. Apply a firmware update from the PC manufacturer wouldn’t change Windows’ ability to read Linux file systems and is unrelated to this specific problem.

Explanation:

✅ Correct Answer: B. Remove users from the local admin group.
The issues described—**unwanted applications being installed and frequent licensing prompts—**strongly suggest that users have local administrative rights on their computers. When users have admin privileges, they can install software without restrictions, often inadvertently introducing unauthorized or pirated applications, potentially leading to security vulnerabilities or licensing compliance issues. The security team would most likely remove users from the local admin group to enforce stricter control over what can be installed. This limits users to installing only approved software through proper channels, helping prevent security incidents, reduce support calls, and maintain licensing compliance.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Deploy an internal PKI to filter encrypted web traffic deals with inspecting secure communications but doesn’t directly stop users from installing software locally.

C. Implement stronger controls to block suspicious websites is useful for preventing malware infections and risky downloads but doesn’t address users manually installing unauthorized software from USB drives or other media.

D. Enable stricter UAC settings on Windows can help prompt users for permission before installations, but if users are local administrators, they can still override the prompts and proceed with installations.

Explanation:

✅ Correct Answer: C. MDR (Managed Detection and Response)
When an organization partners with a third-party vendor to help protect its assets, monitor for threats, and respond to security incidents, it’s using a service called Managed Detection and Response (MDR). MDR providers use multiple tools and security technologies to detect suspicious activities across networks, endpoints, and other environments. They also offer expert analysis and can help remediate threats, providing organizations with advanced security capabilities without needing to build a large, in-house security team. This aligns perfectly with the scenario where a technician reviews an incident management policy that references third-party services.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

A. PaaS (Platform as a Service) provides a cloud-based environment for building and deploying applications but is unrelated to security monitoring and incident response services.

B. EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) focuses specifically on detecting and responding to threats on endpoint devices (like computers and servers) but is usually an internal tool rather than a fully managed service by an external vendor.

D. XDR (Extended Detection and Response) is an advanced security solution that integrates multiple security layers (endpoints, networks, cloud, etc.) into a unified detection and response system. However, it refers more to the technology platform itself, while MDR refers to the managed service model provided by third-party vendors.

Explanation:

✅ Correct Answer: C. Whaling
The scenario describes an attack where a secretary receives an email appearing to come from the company’s CEO, instructing them to urgently pay a vendor. Because the email targets a high-level executive’s identity (the CEO) and aims to manipulate someone into transferring money, this is an example of whaling. Whaling is a form of spear phishing specifically targeted at high-profile individuals or impersonating them to exploit their authority and influence over others. It’s designed to trick employees into taking significant actions, like transferring funds or revealing sensitive information, by leveraging the perceived urgency and authority of executive-level figures.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Evil twin refers to setting up a rogue Wi-Fi network to trick users into connecting and capturing their data—not an email impersonation attack.

B. Impersonation is a general social engineering tactic where someone pretends to be someone else, but “whaling” is the more specific term for high-profile targets like executives.

D. Spear phishing is a highly targeted phishing attack focused on specific individuals, but when it involves executives or impersonating them, it’s classified as whaling, making C the best answer.

Explanation:

✅ Correct Answer: A. Firewall
When setting up a Windows server to allow Remote Desktop connections, one of the key steps is ensuring that the Windows Firewall (or any other network firewall in place) is configured to allow traffic on the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) port, which by default is TCP 3389. If the firewall blocks this port, remote users won’t be able to connect, regardless of how Remote Desktop settings are configured on the server. Therefore, the technician must verify that the firewall has rules permitting inbound RDP connections to ensure multiple users can access the server remotely.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

B. Computer Management is a console for managing system tools, but it’s not where you specifically configure firewall rules for RDP.

C. User Accounts is where you manage login credentials and permissions, which is important for remote desktop security but doesn’t enable the network connectivity itself.

D. Ease of Access relates to accessibility features for users with disabilities and has no bearing on enabling Remote Desktop connections.

Explanation:

✅ Correct Answer: C. The bandwidth is not fast enough.
If a user is trying to stream HD video on a mobile phone and receives connection timeout errors while showing only two bars of 3G signal, the most likely cause is insufficient bandwidth. HD video streaming requires significant data throughput, and a weak 3G connection often cannot sustain the high speeds necessary for smooth playback. The low signal strength (two bars) further limits data rates and increases latency, making connection timeouts more likely. Upgrading to a stronger connection (like 4G/LTE or Wi-Fi) would typically resolve the issue and allow smooth streaming.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

A. The user does not have Wi-Fi enabled → While Wi-Fi might offer faster speeds, the problem is low mobile bandwidth, not the absence of Wi-Fi itself.

B. The website’s subscription has run out → This would usually generate subscription-specific error messages, not a generic connection timeout.

D. The mobile device storage is full → Full storage could cause performance issues but is unlikely to cause a connection timeout specifically when streaming from a website.

Explanation:

✅ Correct Answer: A. Linux
A company that wants to standardize on a single operating system for both workstations and servers while avoiding licensing fees would most likely choose Linux. Linux is an open-source operating system that is free to use and highly versatile, supporting a wide range of desktop environments for end users and powerful server distributions for enterprise infrastructure. Many organizations adopt Linux to reduce costs and gain flexibility without paying expensive licensing fees associated with commercial operating systems. Additionally, Linux is widely supported in enterprise environments and offers strong security, stability, and customization options.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

B. Windows is a proprietary operating system that requires licensing fees for both workstation and server versions, making it unsuitable for a company looking to avoid costs.

C. macOS is only legally licensed to run on Apple hardware and is not commonly used for servers in enterprise environments, plus it also involves licensing fees.

D. Chrome OS is designed primarily for lightweight computing on Chromebooks and does not serve well as a server operating system, nor is it typically used as a versatile workstation OS in corporate environments.

Explanation:

✅ Correct Answer: C. Check the license device limit
When installing a cloud-based productivity suite, many subscription plans limit the number of devices on which the software can be installed. If a technician receives an error stating the installation is unavailable, the first step should be to check the license device limit. It’s possible the user has already reached the maximum number of installations allowed under their subscription. By verifying the license details, the technician can determine if it’s necessary to deactivate the software on another device or purchase additional licenses. This is the most logical and non-disruptive first step before taking more drastic measures.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Reinstall the productivity suite might help if there were a corrupted download, but it doesn’t address a license limit error.

B. Download an open-source alternative isn’t necessary unless the organization decides to switch away from the cloud suite entirely, which is a significant change.

D. Update the device OS can be important for compatibility but won’t resolve a license count issue if that’s what triggered the error.

Explanation:

✅ Correct Answer: D. Ease of Access
On a Windows system, speech recognition is a feature designed to improve accessibility by allowing users to control their computer and dictate text using their voice. The correct place to configure this functionality is under the Ease of Access settings, which include tools like Speech Recognition, Narrator, Magnifier, and other features to help users interact with their devices more easily. The Ease of Access center provides guided setup for speech recognition and options to train the system to better understand the user’s voice, making it the proper choice for setting up this feature.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

A. Time and Language includes settings for language packs, regional formats, and keyboard layouts but doesn’t handle speech recognition setup directly.

B. Personalization deals with changing the desktop appearance, themes, colors, and lock screen, but not accessibility features like speech recognition.

C. System includes settings like display, sound, notifications, power, and storage, but speech recognition is managed through accessibility options.

Explanation:

✅ Correct Answer: D. PXE
When a company wants to deploy baseline images to new computers automatically over the network, the proper solution is to use PXE (Preboot Execution Environment). PXE allows computers to boot from their network interface card instead of a local drive, CD/DVD, or USB. During the PXE boot process, the machine contacts a network server, typically a DHCP server and a TFTP server, to download the boot image and instructions for deploying the operating system. This is widely used in enterprise environments because it enables mass deployment of consistent, automated OS installations without the need for physical media or manual setup on each machine.

❌ Why the other options are incorrect:

A. ISO files are disk images stored on media like CDs, DVDs, or as virtual drives but don’t provide network-based deployment automatically on startup.

B. Secure Boot is a UEFI firmware feature ensuring that only trusted operating systems can boot. It’s a security measure, not a deployment method.

C. USB booting requires manual connection and intervention on each computer, which is less efficient than automated network deployment.