220-1102 Question 53
Single answerWindows 10 editionsA small accounting firm uses Windows 10 Home on several office PCs. The manager asks you to set up the computers so they can join the company’s on-premises Active Directory domain and allow IT staff to use BitLocker to encrypt local drives on laptops. The company wants the least disruptive solution that keeps the existing hardware and installed applications. What is the BEST recommendation?
- A
Upgrade the systems from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Pro
- B
Enable Windows Defender Firewall and keep Windows 10 Home installed
- C
Upgrade the systems from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Enterprise
- D
Replace the PCs with new devices that ship with Windows 10 Home in S mode
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
This question tests practical knowledge of Windows 10 edition differences. For A+ Core 2, candidates should know that Windows 10 Home lacks business-oriented features such as Active Directory domain join and BitLocker, while Windows 10 Pro adds these capabilities. In a real support scenario, recommending an in-place upgrade to Pro is usually the most practical solution when the existing hardware and applications should remain in service. Microsoft’s Windows edition comparison documentation identifies domain join and BitLocker as Pro/Enterprise-level features rather than Home features. Enterprise also supports these features, but it is typically intended for larger organizations using volume licensing and advanced management, so it is not the best fit here.
- A. Correct.
Correct. Windows 10 Pro supports both joining an Active Directory domain and BitLocker drive encryption, which directly meets the company’s requirements. Upgrading from Home to Pro is typically the least disruptive path because it can be done in place without replacing hardware or reinstalling all applications.
- B. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Windows Defender Firewall is useful for security, but it does not add Windows edition features such as domain join or BitLocker management. A common misconception is that security settings can compensate for missing edition capabilities, but these features are tied to the Windows edition.
- C. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Windows 10 Enterprise includes domain join and advanced security features, but it is not the best recommendation in this scenario. Enterprise is generally licensed through volume licensing programs and is more than what this small firm needs. Since Pro already satisfies the stated requirements with less complexity and cost, Enterprise is not the best answer.
- D. Incorrect.
Incorrect. Windows 10 Home in S mode is more restrictive, not more capable. It is designed for simplified management and security, but it does not provide the needed business features such as traditional domain join. Replacing working hardware would also be more disruptive than an in-place edition upgrade.