220-1102 Question 12
Single answerNew Technology File System (NTFS)A technician is preparing a USB external drive that will be used on several Windows 11 PCs in an office. The drive will store confidential HR documents. Management wants access to be restricted using Windows file permissions, and the drive must also support files larger than 4 GB. Which file system should the technician choose when formatting the drive?
- A
FAT32
- B
exFAT
- C
NTFS
- D
ReFS
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The best answer is NTFS because it supports both of the stated business requirements: Windows-based file and folder permissions and files larger than 4 GB. In real-world support scenarios, NTFS is the standard Windows file system when security permissions are required. FAT32 fails because of its 4 GB file-size limitation and lack of NTFS permissions. exFAT removes the file-size limitation but still does not provide NTFS security permissions. Microsoft documentation and standard Windows administration practices identify NTFS as the file system used for permissions, encryption support, compression, and large-volume storage on Windows systems.
- A. Incorrect.
FAT32 is incorrect. Although it is widely compatible, FAT32 does not support NTFS-style file and folder permissions, and it has a maximum individual file size limit of 4 GB. Because the scenario specifically requires Windows permissions and support for files larger than 4 GB, FAT32 does not meet the requirements.
- B. Incorrect.
exFAT is incorrect. exFAT supports files larger than 4 GB and is commonly used for removable media, but it does not provide the same NTFS permissions model used to control access through Windows security settings. A technician might choose exFAT because of its large file support and portability, but it does not satisfy the security requirement in this scenario.
- C. Correct.
NTFS is correct. NTFS supports file and folder permissions through access control lists (ACLs), making it appropriate when access must be restricted using Windows permissions. NTFS also supports very large files, so it meets both requirements in the scenario: security and file size capacity. This is the most practical choice for a Windows-based office environment.
- D. Incorrect.
ReFS is incorrect. ReFS is designed for specific Windows environments and focuses on resiliency and scalability, but it is not the standard choice for a removable USB drive used across typical Windows client systems in an A+ support scenario. A technician might recognize it as a Microsoft file system and assume it is appropriate, but NTFS is the expected and practical answer for applying Windows file permissions on general-use external storage.