CompTIA A+ / Network+ / Security+ CompTIA A+ Core 2: Operating Systems, Security & Operational Procedures (220-1102) Syllabus

CompTIA A+ Core 2: Operating Systems, Security & Operational Procedures (220-1102) syllabus — full chapter and topic list

Expand any chapter to see its topics and sub-topics. This is the whole examinable outline for CompTIA A+ Core 2: Operating Systems, Security & Operational Procedures (220-1102) in CompTIA A+ / Network+ / Security+, not a summary of it.

1. 1

   Operating Systems

   6 topics

   • Microsoft Windows Editions and Features
     • Home, Pro, Pro for Workstations and Enterprise differences
     • Domain versus workgroup; Group Policy and Remote Desktop
   • Command-line Tools
     • Navigation: cd, dir, md, rmdir
     • Networking: ipconfig, ping, tracert, netstat, nslookup
     • Disk and system: chkdsk, sfc, diskpart, gpupdate
   • Windows Management Consoles and Utilities
     • Task Manager, MMC, Event Viewer and Device Manager
     • Disk Management, System Configuration and Registry Editor
   • Windows Control Panel and Settings
     • Network and Sharing Centre, Power Options, Internet Options
     • User Accounts, BitLocker and Windows Defender Firewall
   • Operating System Installation
     • Boot methods: USB, network/PXE, optical
     • Partitioning: GPT versus MBR; file systems NTFS, FAT32, exFAT
     • Clean, in-place upgrade and image deployment
   • Other Operating Systems
     • macOS features: Time Machine, Finder, Keychain
     • Linux commands: ls, grep, chmod, chown, sudo, apt
2. 2

   Security

   6 topics

   • Physical and Logical Security Measures
     • Access control vestibules, bollards, badges and biometrics
     • Principle of least privilege and access control lists
   • Wireless and Network Security
     • WPA2/WPA3, RADIUS, TKIP and AES
     • Firewall configuration and port forwarding/triggering
   • Malware Detection and Removal
     • Types: virus, worm, trojan, ransomware, rootkit, keylogger
     • Removal best practice and recovery procedures
   • Social Engineering and Threats
     • Phishing, vishing, tailgating, shoulder surfing
     • Denial of service, on-path and zero-day attacks
   • Securing Workstations and Mobile Devices
     • Password policies, account management and screen locks
     • Full-disk encryption, remote wipe and MDM
   • Data Destruction and Disposal
     • Physical destruction: shredding, drilling, degaussing
     • Recycling, wiping and certificate of destruction
3. 3

   Software Troubleshooting

   4 topics

   • Troubleshooting Windows Issues
     • Boot failures, blue screens and slow performance
     • Repair tools: Safe Mode, System Restore, Startup Repair
   • Troubleshooting Malware Symptoms
     • Pop-ups, redirected browsers and rogue processes
   • Troubleshooting Mobile OS and Application Issues
     • App crashes, slow response and battery drain
     • Connectivity and update problems
   • Mobile Application Security Issues
     • Leaked data, unauthorised access and high resource use
4. 4

   Operational Procedures

   6 topics

   • Documentation and Asset Management
     • Network topology diagrams, knowledge base and ticketing
     • Acceptable use policy and standard operating procedures
   • Change Management
     • Request, scope, risk analysis and rollback plans
   • Backup and Recovery
     • Full, incremental, differential and synthetic backups
     • 3-2-1 rule and backup testing
   • Safety and Environmental Procedures
     • ESD protection, equipment grounding and handling
     • WEEE disposal and material safety data sheets
   • Professionalism and Communication
     • Active listening, expectation setting and confidentiality
     • Handling difficult customers and data privacy
   • Scripting and Remote Access
     • Scripting basics: .bat, .ps1, .sh, .py, .js
     • Remote tools: RDP, SSH, VPN and screen-sharing

CompTIA A+ Core 2: Operating Systems, Security & Operational Procedures (220-1102) flashcards for CompTIA A+ / Network+ / Security+

18 of 89 cards from the CompTIA A+ Core 2: Operating Systems, Security & Operational Procedures (220-1102) deck — real questions with worked answers.

1. Which Windows 10 editions support BitLocker drive encryption, and which edition does NOT?

   Pro, Enterprise, and Education support BitLocker. Windows 10 Home does NOT include BitLocker (it only offers Device Encryption on supported hardware).

2. What is the maximum amount of RAM supported by 64-bit Windows 10 Home versus Pro/Enterprise?

   64-bit Home supports up to 128 GB of RAM, while Pro, Education, and Enterprise support up to 2 TB. (32-bit Windows is limited to 4 GB regardless of edition.)

3. Which Windows feature allows a PC to join a corporate domain, and which editions provide it?

   Domain join (Active Directory) is available in Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions. Home edition can only join Workgroups, not domains.

4. What does the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc) allow, and which Windows edition lacks it?

   It lets administrators configure local and domain policies centrally. Windows Home does not include gpedit.msc; Group Policy requires Pro or higher.

5. What is the difference between an in-place upgrade and a clean install of Windows?

   An in-place upgrade installs the new OS over the existing one, preserving apps, settings, and files. A clean install wipes the drive/partition and installs fresh, removing all prior data and applications.

6. Which command-line tool checks and repairs the integrity of protected Windows system files?

   sfc /scannow (System File Checker). It scans protected files and replaces corrupted versions from a cached copy.

7. What does the DISM command do, and give a common repair switch.

   DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) services Windows images. A common repair command is DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth, which fixes the component store used by SFC.

8. What is the difference between chkdsk /f and chkdsk /r?

   /f fixes errors on the disk (file-system metadata). /r locates bad sectors and recovers readable information; /r implies /f.

9. Which command displays the full IP configuration, and which switches release and renew a DHCP lease?

   ipconfig /all shows full configuration. ipconfig /release drops the current DHCP lease and ipconfig /renew requests a new one. ipconfig /flushdns clears the DNS resolver cache.

10. What is the difference between the netstat and nslookup commands?

    netstat displays active network connections, listening ports, and routing/protocol statistics. nslookup queries DNS servers to resolve hostnames to IP addresses (and vice versa).

11. Which command-line tool maps a network drive, and what is the basic syntax?

    net use. Syntax: net use Z: \\server\share /persistent:yes maps the share to drive letter Z.

12. What does the gpupdate /force command do?

    It immediately reapplies all local and Active Directory Group Policy settings, forcing a refresh rather than waiting for the scheduled background interval.

13. Which command gracefully shuts down or restarts Windows from the CLI, and what switch forces a restart after 0 seconds?

    shutdown. shutdown /r /t 0 restarts immediately; /s shuts down, /a aborts a pending shutdown, /t sets the timeout in seconds.

14. What is the purpose of the diskpart utility?

    diskpart is a command-line disk-partitioning tool used to create, delete, format, extend, shrink, and set active partitions, and to manage volumes and disks.

15. Which MMC snap-in is used to manage local users and groups, services, disk management, and Device Manager from one console?

    Computer Management (compmgmt.msc) — it aggregates Task Scheduler, Event Viewer, Local Users and Groups, Performance, Device Manager, Disk Management, and Services.

16. What does the Event Viewer (eventvwr.msc) categorize logs into?

    Windows Logs: Application, Security, Setup, System, and Forwarded Events. Severity levels include Information, Warning, Error, and Critical.

17. What is the difference between Task Manager and Resource Monitor (resmon)?

    Task Manager gives a high-level real-time view of processes, performance, startup apps, and users. Resource Monitor provides detailed per-process breakdowns of CPU, memory, disk, and network activity.

18. Which console (msconfig) tab in older Windows controlled startup programs, and where is startup management in Windows 10/11?

    In msconfig (System Configuration) the Startup tab historically managed startup apps; in Windows 10/11 startup app management moved to the Startup tab of Task Manager.

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