CompTIA 220-1202 Glossary: Key Terms
March 31, 2026
CompTIA 220-1202 glossary of operating systems, security, software, and operational terms.
Use this glossary when Windows, security, and support terms start to blur together. Core 2 usually does not punish you because you forgot a word. It punishes you because two nearby ideas collapsed into one wrong troubleshooting move.
High-value terms
| Term |
What it means on this exam |
Fast anchor |
| WinRE |
Windows Recovery Environment for startup repair, restore, update rollback, and offline command work |
broader recovery lane |
| UAC |
elevation prompt and admin-approval boundary |
not the same as full admin rights |
| BitLocker |
full-volume encryption for data at rest |
disk-level protection |
| EFS |
file-level encryption inside Windows |
narrower than BitLocker |
| restore point |
saved system-state checkpoint used by System Restore |
rollback helper, not full backup |
| Safe Mode |
minimal-startup troubleshooting mode |
fewer drivers and services |
| clean boot |
selective startup used to isolate software conflicts |
conflict-isolation lane |
| Group Policy |
centralized Windows configuration and control framework |
managed-setting lane |
| service |
background process controlled by the OS |
startup and runtime behavior |
| profile |
user-specific settings and data |
can break without the whole OS failing |
| least privilege |
minimum required access for the task |
default security instinct |
| quarantine |
isolate the affected system or malicious content |
contain before cleanup |
| MDM |
mobile device management for enrollment and policy enforcement |
remote policy lane |
| recovery key |
unlock credential for encrypted storage like BitLocker or FileVault |
recovery ownership |
Commonly confused pairs
| Pair |
Keep this distinction clear |
| BitLocker vs EFS |
full-volume encryption versus file-level encryption |
| restore point vs backup |
system-state rollback helper versus broader recovery copy |
| Safe Mode vs clean boot |
minimal startup environment versus selective startup for conflict isolation |
| WinRE vs Reset this PC |
recovery toolkit versus more disruptive refresh or reinstall path |
| administrator rights vs effective permissions |
broad role capability versus actual resulting access after all rules apply |
| local account vs domain account |
device-local identity versus centrally managed identity |
| share permission vs NTFS |
network share boundary versus filesystem boundary |
| malware remediation vs incident process |
endpoint cleanup sequence versus broader organizational response |
If three terms blur together, sort them like this
| If you are choosing between… |
Ask this first |
Usually separate them by… |
| Safe Mode, WinRE, and Reset |
am I isolating, repairing, or rebuilding? |
scope of recovery and reversibility |
| BitLocker, EFS, and backup |
am I protecting data, a file, or recovery capability? |
encryption scope versus recoverability |
| local, Microsoft, and domain account |
where does identity authority really live? |
standalone, consumer-cloud, or centrally managed context |
| share, NTFS, and UAC |
is the failure about path access, file access, or privilege elevation? |
network boundary, filesystem boundary, or admin boundary |
Fast recall anchors
| Topic family |
What strong answers usually remember |
| permissions |
access problems are boundary problems first |
| malware |
contain first, then clean, then restore and educate |
| recovery |
reversible supported fix before destructive reset |
| operations |
verification and documentation are part of the fix |
| management |
policy and enrollment matter more than random device tweaking |
Route yourself well
| If the confusion is really about… |
Go here next |
| commands, recovery order, and high-confusion troubleshooting pairs |
Cheat Sheet |
| official exam facts and platform references |
Resources |
| pacing and weak-lane review order |
Study Plan |
| overall exam framing |
Guide root |
Revised on Sunday, May 10, 2026