220-1102 Question 179
Single answerEstablish network connectionsA technician is configuring a Windows 11 laptop for a user who works remotely and needs secure access to internal file shares when away from the office. The company has provided the VPN server address, a username, and a password. The user reports that entering the file server name in File Explorer does not work from home. Which action should the technician take FIRST to establish the required network connection?
- A
Create and connect a VPN connection in Windows using the company VPN server information
- B
Join the laptop to the home router's guest wireless network to isolate business traffic
- C
Map the file share directly in File Explorer using the server name before any remote access is configured
- D
Enable Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing on the user's home network profile
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The best first action is to configure and connect a VPN in Windows so the remote laptop can securely reach internal company resources. In real-world support scenarios, internal file shares are commonly accessible only after a successful remote-access connection to the corporate network. Windows supports VPN setup through the Network & Internet settings, where a technician can enter the VPN provider, server name or address, and authentication details. This aligns with Microsoft guidance for built-in Windows VPN configuration and with standard security best practices: establish an encrypted tunnel before accessing private file shares, line-of-business apps, or intranet resources. The other options either affect only the local home network or attempt access before the necessary network path exists.
- A. Correct.
Correct. The user needs secure remote access to internal company resources from outside the office. The first step is to create and establish a VPN connection using the provided server address and credentials. Once the VPN tunnel is active, the laptop can communicate with internal hosts such as file servers, assuming permissions and name resolution are in place. This reflects standard remote-access practice in Windows, where the VPN connection is established before attempting to reach private network resources.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. A guest wireless network is typically more restricted and is designed to isolate devices from the local network, not to provide access to corporate resources. While the laptop may still have internet access on a guest network, this does not address the need to securely connect to the company network. Someone might choose this option because it sounds security-focused, but it does not establish the required business network connection.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Mapping or browsing to the file share before remote connectivity is established will usually fail because the file server is on the company's internal network and is not directly reachable over the public internet. This is a common misconception: users often try to access internal resources first, when in reality the secure remote connection must be created before those resources become available.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Network Discovery and File and Printer Sharing affect how the user's computer interacts with devices on the local home network. They do not create a secure path to the organization's private network. A technician might consider this because the issue involves file access, but these settings are unrelated to reaching a corporate file server over the internet.