The answer is Password Hash Synchronization (PHS) because it is the only feature in Microsoft Entra Connect that synchronizes password hashes from on-premises Active Directory to the cloud and can be configured for immediate propagation on an on-premises change. When a user resets their password on-premises, the Entra Connect sync engine detects the hash change and, with the “password writeback” and “synchronize on password change” settings enabled, pushes that hash to Microsoft Entra ID within minutes rather than waiting for the standard 30-minute sync cycle. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of hybrid identity authentication methods, specifically how PHS enables both single sign-on and self-service password reset without requiring federation. A common trap is confusing Pass-Through Authentication (PTA) with password sync—PTA validates passwords on-premises but never stores hashes in the cloud, so it cannot propagate changes. Remember the memory tip: “Hash hits the cloud fast; PTA never hashes.”
AZ-305 Design infrastructure solutions Practice Question
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design infrastructure 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. 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.
You are designing a hybrid identity solution for a company with 5,000 on-premises users. The company wants to use Microsoft Entra ID for single sign-on and self-service password reset. They also need to synchronize user passwords to the cloud. Which feature should you enable to ensure password changes on-premises are immediately propagated to Microsoft Entra ID?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
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
Option A is correct because Password Hash Synchronization with Microsoft Entra Connect synchronizes password hashes and can be configured for immediate sync on change. Option B is wrong because Pass-through Authentication does not synchronize passwords. Option C is wrong because Federation uses AD FS and does not sync passwords. Option D is wrong because Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync is for syncing objects but password sync is a feature of Connect.
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.
✗
Federation with AD FS
Why it's wrong here
Federation relies on on-premises authentication; passwords are not synced to Microsoft Entra ID.
✗
Pass-through Authentication
Why it's wrong here
Pass-through Authentication validates passwords on-premises but does not sync them to the cloud.
✓
Password Hash Synchronization
Why this is correct
Password Hash Sync syncs password changes on-premises to Microsoft Entra ID in near real-time.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Sync can sync objects but password synchronization requires Azure AD Connect.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
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
How to think about this question
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.
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.
Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
→Underline the problem statement mentally.
→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 media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this AZ-305 question in full detail.
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.
Design infrastructure solutions — This question tests Design infrastructure 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 — Option A is correct because Password Hash Synchronization with Microsoft Entra Connect synchronizes password hashes and can be configured for immediate sync on change. Option B is wrong because Pass-through Authentication does not synchronize passwords. Option C is wrong because Federation uses AD FS and does not sync passwords. Option D is wrong because Microsoft Entra Cloud Sync is for syncing objects but password sync is a feature of Connect.
What should I do if I get this AZ-305 question wrong?
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "immediately / without restart". Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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