Quick Answer
The answer is Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS), Microsoft Entra ID, and Microsoft Entra Connect Sync. These three components form the core of a hybrid identity solution that extends on-premises Active Directory to Azure while providing single sign-on (SSO) to cloud applications. Microsoft Entra Connect Sync handles identity synchronization between your on-premises directory and the cloud, Microsoft Entra ID serves as the cloud-based identity platform, and AD FS enables seamless SSO by federating authentication across on-premises and cloud resources. On the AZ-305 exam, this question tests your understanding of the minimum required building blocks for hybrid identity with AD FS and Microsoft Entra Connect, often appearing as a trap where candidates mistakenly include Azure AD Application Proxy or Microsoft Entra Domain Services. Remember that Application Proxy publishes apps, not SSO, and Domain Services provides managed domain services but is unnecessary for SSO. A useful memory tip: think of the three as "Sync, Cloud, and Federation"—the trio that bridges your on-premises world to Azure with a single sign-on experience.
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design infrastructure solutions. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. 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.
Which THREE components are required to implement a hybrid cloud solution that extends on-premises Active Directory to Azure and provides single sign-on (SSO) to cloud applications? (Choose three.)
Microsoft Entra Domain Services
Why wrong: Provides managed domain services, not SSO.
Microsoft Entra Connect Sync
Synchronizes on-premises AD with Entra ID.
Azure AD Application Proxy
Why wrong: Used for publishing on-premises apps, not SSO.
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD)
Provides cloud identity and authentication.
Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)
Enables SSO between on-premises and cloud.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Microsoft Entra Connect Sync
A, B, and C are correct. Microsoft Entra Connect Sync synchronizes identities; Microsoft Entra ID provides the cloud identity platform; Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) enables SSO for on-premises and cloud apps. D is wrong because Azure AD Application Proxy is for publishing on-premises apps, not SSO. E is wrong because Microsoft Entra Domain Services manages domain services in the cloud, but is not required for SSO.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Microsoft Entra Domain Services
Why it's wrong here
Provides managed domain services, not SSO.
Microsoft Entra Connect Sync
Why this is correct
Synchronizes on-premises AD with Entra ID.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Azure AD Application Proxy
Why it's wrong here
Used for publishing on-premises apps, not SSO.
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD)
Why this is correct
Provides cloud identity and authentication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)
Why this is correct
Enables SSO between on-premises and cloud.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
Identify which AZ-305 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Design infrastructure solutions — This question tests Design infrastructure solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Microsoft Entra Connect Sync — A, B, and C are correct. Microsoft Entra Connect Sync synchronizes identities; Microsoft Entra ID provides the cloud identity platform; Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS) enables SSO for on-premises and cloud apps. D is wrong because Azure AD Application Proxy is for publishing on-premises apps, not SSO. E is wrong because Microsoft Entra Domain Services manages domain services in the cloud, but is not required for SSO.
Identify which AZ-305 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 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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