The answer is Conditional Access, the Microsoft Entra ID feature that enforces MFA for external access to sensitive apps. This is correct because Conditional Access policies evaluate real-time signals—such as the user’s network location—and can require MFA when access originates from outside the corporate network, precisely matching the requirement to protect sensitive cloud applications from untrusted locations. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your ability to distinguish Conditional Access from other Entra ID features like Identity Protection or Privileged Identity Management; a common trap is choosing Identity Protection, which detects risk but does not directly enforce access controls. Remember that Conditional Access is the policy engine that says “if location is external, then require MFA,” while Identity Protection only reports risk levels. A useful memory tip: think of Conditional Access as the “bouncer” that checks your location ID before letting you in, whereas MFA is the second lock it demands.
AZ-305 Practice Question: Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. A key principle to apply: conditional Access policies evaluate conditions to enforce access controls.. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company uses Microsoft Entra ID (Microsoft Entra ID) Premium P2. They want to enforce that users accessing sensitive cloud applications from outside the corporate network must use multi-factor authentication (MFA). Which Microsoft Entra ID feature should they configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Conditional Access
Conditional Access is the correct feature because it allows administrators to define policies that enforce MFA based on specific conditions, such as network location (outside corporate network) and cloud app sensitivity. By configuring a Conditional Access policy targeting 'All cloud apps' or specific sensitive apps with the condition 'Locations: All trusted/untrusted networks', you can require MFA for external access. This directly meets the requirement without needing additional licenses or features beyond Entra ID Premium P2.
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✓
Conditional Access
Why this is correct
Correct. Conditional Access policies can require MFA for specific users, apps, and locations.
Related concept
Conditional Access policies evaluate conditions to enforce access controls.
✗
Identity Protection
Why it's wrong here
Identity Protection detects risks like leaked credentials but does not enforce MFA directly.
✗
Privileged Identity Management
Why it's wrong here
PIM manages just-in-time access for administrative roles, not MFA enforcement for all users.
✗
Access Reviews
Why it's wrong here
Access Reviews are for periodic attestation of access, not for enforcing MFA.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Identity Protection's risk-based MFA triggers with Conditional Access's location-based MFA, assuming Identity Protection alone can enforce MFA for external access, but Identity Protection only suggests or triggers MFA via risk policies that require Conditional Access to actually enforce the block or MFA prompt.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Conditional Access policies are evaluated at authentication time by the Entra ID policy engine, which checks conditions like user/group membership, location (via IP ranges or named locations), device state, and application sensitivity. The 'Grant' control can require MFA, and the 'Session' control can enforce app-enforced restrictions. A common subtlety is that 'outside corporate network' must be defined using named locations (e.g., corporate IP ranges) or the 'All trusted/untrusted networks' condition, which relies on the 'MFA trusted IPs' configuration in legacy MFA settings.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Conditional Access policies evaluate conditions to enforce access controls.
MFA can be required as a grant control within a Conditional Access policy.
Location conditions (e.g., trusted IPs) can define 'inside' vs. 'outside' the network.
Conditional Access requires Microsoft Entra ID Premium P1 or P2 licenses.
TExam Day Tips
→Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
→Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Conditional Access policies evaluate conditions to enforce access controls.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A company's IT admin needs to give a contractor read-only access to production logs without sharing account credentials. Using role-based access control (RBAC) and temporary scoped permissions — not a permanent shared password — is the correct pattern. Questions like this test whether you can apply least-privilege access across cloud identity services.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-305 question in full detail.
Review conditional Access policies evaluate conditions to enforce access controls., then practise related AZ-305 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — This question tests Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — Conditional Access policies evaluate conditions to enforce access controls..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Conditional Access — Conditional Access is the correct feature because it allows administrators to define policies that enforce MFA based on specific conditions, such as network location (outside corporate network) and cloud app sensitivity. By configuring a Conditional Access policy targeting 'All cloud apps' or specific sensitive apps with the condition 'Locations: All trusted/untrusted networks', you can require MFA for external access. This directly meets the requirement without needing additional licenses or features beyond Entra ID Premium P2.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Review conditional Access policies evaluate conditions to enforce access controls., then practise related AZ-305 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Conditional Access policies evaluate conditions to enforce access controls.
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