Pass-through Authentication (PTA) is the correct choice because it validates user passwords directly against on-premises Active Directory without ever storing password hashes in Azure AD. This meets the requirement that password hashes are never stored in the cloud, as PTA uses a lightweight agent on-premises to authenticate users, and only the validation result is sent to Azure AD—no password hash ever leaves your local domain controller. On the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Expert AZ-305 exam, this scenario often appears in questions about hybrid identity pass-through authentication no password hash, testing your ability to distinguish PTA from Password Hash Synchronization (PHS), which does store hashes in the cloud. A common trap is choosing federation services (AD FS) instead, but PTA is simpler and avoids the complexity of a federation infrastructure while still meeting the no-hash requirement. Memory tip: think “PTA = Pass Through, no hash stash”—the password passes through to on-premises, never stashed in the cloud.
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. 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.
Your organization uses Microsoft Entra ID and has a hybrid identity deployment with Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) on-premises. You need to synchronize user identities to Microsoft Entra ID, but you must ensure that password hashes are never stored in the cloud. Which synchronization method should you use?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "never"
Why it matters: Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Pass-through Authentication (PTA)
Pass-through Authentication (PTA) is the correct choice because it validates user passwords directly against on-premises Active Directory without ever storing password hashes in Azure AD. This meets the requirement that password hashes are never stored in the cloud, as PTA uses an agent on-premises to authenticate users, and only the validation result is sent to Azure AD.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
✗
Password Hash Sync
Why it's wrong here
Password Hash Sync stores password hashes in Azure AD, violating the requirement.
✗
Federation with AD FS
Why it's wrong here
Federation still synchronizes user objects and may store password hashes for backup authentication.
✓
Pass-through Authentication (PTA)
Why this is correct
PTA authenticates users against on-premises AD without storing password hashes in the cloud.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "never" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Azure AD Connect Cloud Sync
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Sync supports PTA but typically uses Password Hash Sync; also it does not synchronize password hashes by default only if configured.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Pass-through Authentication with Password Hash Sync, assuming that any synchronization method must store password hashes in the cloud, but PTA avoids this by performing real-time validation without hash storage.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Pass-through Authentication works by deploying an on-premises agent that listens for authentication requests from Azure AD. When a user attempts to sign in, Azure AD sends the username and password to the agent, which validates them against on-premises AD DS using the standard Kerberos or NTLM protocol. The agent then returns a success or failure response to Azure AD, ensuring that no password hash ever leaves the on-premises environment. This is particularly important for organizations with strict compliance requirements that prohibit storing password hashes in the cloud, such as those governed by GDPR or internal security policies.
KKey Concepts to Remember
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
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
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
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.
Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — This question tests Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Pass-through Authentication (PTA) — Pass-through Authentication (PTA) is the correct choice because it validates user passwords directly against on-premises Active Directory without ever storing password hashes in Azure AD. This meets the requirement that password hashes are never stored in the cloud, as PTA uses an agent on-premises to authenticate users, and only the validation result is sent to Azure AD.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "never". Absolute qualifier. True only if the statement has zero exceptions — be cautious of options that seem obvious but break down in edge cases.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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