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.
Which TWO are valid methods to authenticate users in a Microsoft Entra ID hybrid identity solution? (Select TWO.)
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Password hash synchronization
Password hash synchronization (B) is a valid authentication method for Microsoft Entra ID hybrid identity because it synchronizes password hashes from on-premises Active Directory to Azure AD, allowing users to authenticate using the same password without needing additional infrastructure. Pass-through authentication (D) is also valid as it validates passwords directly against on-premises Active Directory via agents, without storing password hashes in the cloud. Both methods are supported in hybrid identity scenarios and can be combined with Seamless SSO for a seamless experience.
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.
✗
Cloud-only authentication
Why it's wrong here
Not hybrid; requires no on-premises directory.
✓
Password hash synchronization
Why this is correct
Synchronizes password hashes to cloud for authentication.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Federation with Active Directory Federation Services (ADFS)
Why it's wrong here
This is an authentication method, but the question asks for TWO; PHS and PTA are the simplest hybrid methods.
✓
Pass-through Authentication
Why this is correct
Validates passwords on-premises via an agent.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Seamless Single Sign-On
Why it's wrong here
Feature that works with PHS or PTA, not an authentication method itself.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Seamless Single Sign-On (SSO) as an authentication method, when it is actually a feature that works on top of password hash sync or pass-through authentication to provide automatic sign-in, not a standalone authentication method.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Password hash synchronization uses the Microsoft Entra Connect Sync tool to synchronize the hash of the user's password from on-premises AD to Azure AD, using the same hash algorithm (MD4) as on-premises. Pass-through authentication uses agents installed on-premises that validate passwords against Active Directory in real-time, without storing any password hash in the cloud. Both methods support Seamless SSO via Kerberos delegation, but Seamless SSO itself does not perform authentication; it only provides automatic sign-in when the user is already authenticated on the domain-joined device.
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: Password hash synchronization — Password hash synchronization (B) is a valid authentication method for Microsoft Entra ID hybrid identity because it synchronizes password hashes from on-premises Active Directory to Azure AD, allowing users to authenticate using the same password without needing additional infrastructure. Pass-through authentication (D) is also valid as it validates passwords directly against on-premises Active Directory via agents, without storing password hashes in the cloud. Both methods are supported in hybrid identity scenarios and can be combined with Seamless SSO for a seamless experience.
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.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Question Discussion
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