220-1101 Question 329
Single answerBadgingA technician is dispatched to a company office to replace several desktop PCs after business hours. When the technician arrives, the exterior doors are locked and the security guard asks for company-issued identification before granting access to the server room and user work areas. The technician has the work order and government-issued photo ID, but no company access card. Which of the following is the BEST physical security method the company is enforcing in this scenario?
- A
Badging
- B
Biometric authentication
- C
Smart lock geofencing
- D
Mantrap
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best answer is badging because the scenario focuses on verifying a person’s authorization through a company-issued identification card before allowing physical access. On the A+ Core 1 exam, badging is commonly associated with physical security controls used in offices, data centers, and restricted work areas. In real environments, badges may be checked visually by guards, scanned electronically at doors, or both. This aligns with standard physical security best practices such as identity verification, visitor control, and limiting access to authorized personnel only. Biometric controls and mantraps are also valid physical security methods, but they are different controls and are not the one described in this scenario.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Badging is a physical security control that uses visible identification cards or access badges to verify that a person is authorized to enter a facility or restricted area. In this scenario, the guard is checking for company-issued identification before allowing access, which is a classic example of badging used to validate identity and authorization.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Biometric authentication uses characteristics such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans. The scenario does not mention any biometric reader or physical trait verification; it specifically describes checking for a company-issued ID badge.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Smart lock geofencing refers to systems that unlock or trigger actions based on a device's location. This is more common in consumer or advanced mobile-controlled access systems and is not what is being described here. The guard is manually verifying a badge, not relying on location-based automation.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A mantrap is a controlled entry area with two interlocking doors designed to limit tailgating and ensure only one authorized person enters at a time. Although a mantrap is a physical security control, nothing in the scenario indicates a two-door containment area or anti-tailgating chamber.