AZ-204 Implement Azure security Practice Question
A single-page app signs in users with Microsoft Entra ID and calls a protected API. The app cannot safely keep a client secret. Which OAuth flow should be used? The team wants the control to be enforceable during normal operations.
⚠ Common exam trap
Many candidates confuse the deprecated implicit flow (Option A) with the authorization code flow with PKCE, mistakenly thinking the implicit flow is still acceptable for SPAs, but Microsoft and OAuth standards now mandate PKCE for all public clients.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Authorization code flow with PKCE
The authorization code flow with PKCE (Proof Key for Code Exchange) is the recommended OAuth flow for single-page apps because it prevents the client secret from being exposed by using a dynamically generated code verifier and challenge. This flow ensures that even if the authorization code is intercepted, it cannot be exchanged for tokens without the original code verifier, making it secure for public clients that cannot safely store secrets.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Implicit flow
Why it's wrong here
Implicit flow is legacy and less secure than authorization code with PKCE.
- ✗
Client credentials flow
Why it's wrong here
Client credentials is for daemon/service-to-service access, not user sign-in in a SPA.
- ✗
Resource owner password credentials flow
Why it's wrong here
ROPC is discouraged and incompatible with many modern security controls.
- ✓
Authorization code flow with PKCE
Why this is correct
PKCE protects public clients that cannot store secrets and is recommended for SPAs.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This AZ-204 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the AZ-204 exam.