Denial of service describes which scenario?

• A. An interruption in an authorized user's access to a computer network, typically one caused with malicious intent
• B. A scheduled system backup
• C. A software update process
• D. A routine for cleaning temporary files

Answer: (A)

Denial of service centers on making a system or network unavailable to people who should have access by overwhelming its resources or otherwise disrupting service. The scenario described fits this idea: an interruption in an authorized user’s ability to reach a computer network, typically driven by malicious intent. That’s the essence of a DoS event.

Routine maintenance tasks like a scheduled backup, a software update, or cleaning temporary files are normal activities meant to keep systems healthy or tidy up space. They aren’t about blocking legitimate users, and they aren’t driven by malicious disruption, so they don’t describe a denial-of-service situation.