220-1102 Question 62
Single answerN versionsA support technician is preparing a company laptop for an employee who needs a Windows environment that will continue to receive security updates and vendor support for the longest practical period. The laptop currently has Windows 10 version 21H2 installed. Which action should the technician take to meet this requirement while following standard support best practices?
- A
Keep Windows 10 version 21H2 because all Windows 10 versions receive the same support until the Windows 10 end-of-life date
- B
Upgrade the laptop to a currently supported Windows release that is within Microsoft's N-1 support window
- C
Downgrade the laptop to Windows 10 version 1909 because older versions are typically more stable in business environments
- D
Disable feature updates and rely only on antivirus updates because version support status does not affect security patch eligibility
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B
Explanation
The key concept is understanding version support in a real support lifecycle context. An N version is the current supported release, and N-1 is the previous supported release. In enterprise and professional support, technicians commonly aim to keep systems on N or N-1 so devices remain supported, secure, and compatible with vendor guidance. For Windows, Microsoft ties servicing and security updates to specific versions rather than the product name alone. A machine on Windows 10 21H2 should be evaluated against Microsoft's current lifecycle documentation and then moved to a currently supported release if the goal is to maximize supported lifespan. This aligns with standard endpoint management best practices: keep devices on supported operating system versions, apply feature updates before end of servicing, and do not rely on antivirus alone as a substitute for OS patching.
- A. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Windows client versions do not all receive identical support for the same duration regardless of release. Microsoft support is tied to specific versions/builds, and once a version reaches end of servicing, it no longer receives regular security updates. Keeping an older installed version simply because the product family is still known as Windows 10 is a common misconception.
- B. Correct.
This is correct. In practical support environments, staying within an N or N-1 supported version policy means using either the current supported release or the immediately previous supported release, depending on organizational standards. Upgrading from Windows 10 21H2 to a currently supported Windows release is the best way to maximize remaining support life and maintain eligibility for security updates.
- C. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Downgrading to an even older Windows 10 version such as 1909 would reduce, not extend, supportability. Older versions reach end of servicing sooner and may already be unsupported. The idea that older versions are automatically safer or more stable is a common but flawed assumption when support lifecycle and security patch availability are the real concern.
- D. Incorrect.
This is incorrect. Antivirus definition updates do not replace operating system security updates. Once a Windows version is out of support, the device may stop receiving critical OS patches, which increases risk. Disabling feature updates can also leave the machine on an unsupported version longer, which conflicts with standard lifecycle management practices.