- A
Microsoft Entra ID Security defaults
Why wrong: Security defaults enforce MFA for all users and all applications, which does not meet the requirement to only require MFA for the Azure portal.
- B
Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access
Conditional Access policies can target specific cloud apps (e.g., Microsoft Azure Management) and require MFA only for those apps, leaving other apps unaffected.
- C
Microsoft Entra ID Identity Protection
Why wrong: Identity Protection detects risky sign-ins but does not enforce MFA directly; it integrates with Conditional Access to require MFA based on risk level, which is not the requirement here.
- D
Microsoft Entra ID Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Why wrong: PIM manages just-in-time access for privileged roles and can require MFA on activation, but it does not apply to all users accessing the Azure portal.
Quick Answer
The answer is Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access. This feature is correct because it enables granular, policy-driven control over authentication requirements, allowing administrators to enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) specifically for the Azure Portal application while excluding other apps like Office 365. By defining conditions based on the target application, user group, or location, Conditional Access delivers app-specific MFA without affecting the broader sign-in experience. On the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to isolate authentication policies for high-security portals versus standard productivity tools—a common trap is assuming you need separate MFA providers or per-user settings, which lack this granularity. A strong memory tip is to think of Conditional Access as a “smart gatekeeper” that checks the app’s identity before demanding MFA, not a blanket requirement for every door.
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 before granting access.. 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). They want to require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all users accessing the Azure portal, but do not want MFA to be required for other applications like Office 365. Which Microsoft Entra ID feature should they configure?
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
Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access
Conditional Access in Microsoft Entra ID allows granular control over authentication requirements based on conditions such as application, user, location, or device state. By creating a Conditional Access policy targeting the Azure Portal application and requiring MFA, the company can enforce MFA specifically for Azure Portal access without affecting other applications like Office 365, which can be excluded from the policy.
Key principle: Conditional Access policies evaluate conditions before granting access.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Microsoft Entra ID Security defaults
Why it's wrong here
Security defaults enforce MFA for all users and all applications, which does not meet the requirement to only require MFA for the Azure portal.
- ✓
Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access
Why this is correct
Conditional Access policies can target specific cloud apps (e.g., Microsoft Azure Management) and require MFA only for those apps, leaving other apps unaffected.
Related concept
Conditional Access policies evaluate conditions before granting access.
- ✗
Microsoft Entra ID Identity Protection
Why it's wrong here
Identity Protection detects risky sign-ins but does not enforce MFA directly; it integrates with Conditional Access to require MFA based on risk level, which is not the requirement here.
- ✗
Microsoft Entra ID Privileged Identity Management (PIM)
Why it's wrong here
PIM manages just-in-time access for privileged roles and can require MFA on activation, but it does not apply to all users accessing the Azure portal.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Security defaults (which enforces MFA broadly) with Conditional Access (which provides granular application-specific control), leading them to choose Security defaults when the question explicitly requires selective enforcement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Conditional Access policies are evaluated at sign-in and can target specific cloud applications using the 'Cloud apps or actions' assignment, where you select 'Microsoft Azure Management' to cover the Azure portal. The policy can be scoped to exclude other applications like Office 365 by not including them in the target list, or by explicitly excluding them. Under the hood, Conditional Access uses the OAuth 2.0 authorization framework and can enforce MFA via the 'Grant' control, which triggers an MFA challenge during token issuance.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Conditional Access policies evaluate conditions before granting access.
- Policies can target specific cloud applications like 'Microsoft Azure Management'.
- MFA can be enforced as a grant control within a Conditional Access policy.
- Conditional Access requires a Microsoft Entra ID P1 or P2 license.
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 before granting access.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Review conditional Access policies evaluate conditions before granting access., then practise related AZ-305 questions on the same topic to reinforce the concept.
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Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — study guide chapter
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-305 question test?
Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — This question tests Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — Conditional Access policies evaluate conditions before granting access..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Microsoft Entra ID Conditional Access — Conditional Access in Microsoft Entra ID allows granular control over authentication requirements based on conditions such as application, user, location, or device state. By creating a Conditional Access policy targeting the Azure Portal application and requiring MFA, the company can enforce MFA specifically for Azure Portal access without affecting other applications like Office 365, which can be excluded from the policy.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Review conditional Access policies evaluate conditions before granting access., 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 before granting access.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-305 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-305 exam.
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