- A
Deploy Azure AD Domain Services and configure Kerberos authentication for cloud apps. Use Azure MFA Server on-premises for MFA enforcement.
Why wrong: Azure AD DS is not needed for cloud apps; MFA Server is legacy.
- B
Configure Microsoft Entra ID Protection to detect risky sign-ins and create a conditional access policy that requires MFA for sensitive apps. Enable the risky user policy to require password change, and use Microsoft Authenticator for self-remediation.
This solution leverages Entra ID Protection and Conditional Access without additional infrastructure.
- C
Implement Microsoft Defender for Identity to monitor on-premises AD and require MFA via on-premises NPS extension.
Why wrong: Defender for Identity is for threat detection, not self-remediation.
- D
Use Microsoft Entra Permissions Management to enforce MFA policies and manage user permissions.
Why wrong: Permissions Management is for cloud infrastructure entitlement management, not MFA enforcement.
Quick Answer
The answer is to configure Microsoft Entra ID Protection to detect risky sign-ins and create a conditional access policy that requires MFA for sensitive apps, then enable the risky user policy to require a password change via Microsoft Authenticator for self-remediation. This works because Entra ID Protection continuously analyzes sign-in risk signals, while a conditional access policy enforces MFA specifically for sensitive applications, meeting the MFA requirement without blanket disruption. The risky user policy, combined with Authenticator’s self-remediation flow, allows users to resolve their own risk by changing their password, eliminating admin intervention and minimizing infrastructure complexity by using cloud-native services. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your ability to integrate conditional access, MFA, and identity protection into a unified governance strategy—a common trap is choosing a solution that relies on on-premises components like a separate MFA server, which violates the “minimize complexity” requirement. Memory tip: think “Protect, Policy, Prompt”—Entra ID Protection detects risk, Conditional Access policy enforces MFA, and Authenticator prompts self-remediation.
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 company has a hybrid identity environment with 10,000 on-premises users synchronized to Microsoft Entra ID using Microsoft Entra Connect. You plan to implement a modern access control strategy for all cloud applications. The requirements are: enforce multifactor authentication (MFA) for all users when accessing sensitive applications, allow users to self-remediate risky sign-ins via a mobile app, and minimize infrastructure complexity. You need to design the identity and governance solution. What should you do?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"minimum / minimize"Why it matters: Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
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
Configure Microsoft Entra ID Protection to detect risky sign-ins and create a conditional access policy that requires MFA for sensitive apps. Enable the risky user policy to require password change, and use Microsoft Authenticator for self-remediation.
Option B is correct because it uses Microsoft Entra ID Protection to detect risky sign-ins and a Conditional Access policy to require MFA for sensitive applications, meeting the MFA enforcement requirement. The risky user policy requiring a password change combined with Microsoft Authenticator for self-remediation allows users to resolve their own risk without admin intervention, satisfying the self-remediation requirement. This approach minimizes infrastructure complexity by relying entirely on cloud-native services rather than on-premises components.
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.
- ✗
Deploy Azure AD Domain Services and configure Kerberos authentication for cloud apps. Use Azure MFA Server on-premises for MFA enforcement.
- ✓
Configure Microsoft Entra ID Protection to detect risky sign-ins and create a conditional access policy that requires MFA for sensitive apps. Enable the risky user policy to require password change, and use Microsoft Authenticator for self-remediation.
Why this is correct
This solution leverages Entra ID Protection and Conditional Access without additional infrastructure.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "minimum / minimize" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Implement Microsoft Defender for Identity to monitor on-premises AD and require MFA via on-premises NPS extension.
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Identity is for threat detection, not self-remediation.
- ✗
Use Microsoft Entra Permissions Management to enforce MFA policies and manage user permissions.
Why it's wrong here
Permissions Management is for cloud infrastructure entitlement management, not MFA enforcement.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse Microsoft Defender for Identity or Azure AD Domain Services with identity protection and access control solutions, overlooking that Entra ID Protection and Conditional Access are the correct cloud-native services for risk-based MFA enforcement and self-remediation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Microsoft Entra ID Protection uses machine learning models to detect sign-in risks such as anonymous IP addresses, atypical travel, or leaked credentials, assigning a risk level (low, medium, high). Conditional Access policies can then evaluate this risk level in real-time to require MFA or block access. The risky user policy can be configured to require a password change, which, when combined with Microsoft Authenticator's passwordless sign-in and risk remediation capabilities, allows users to self-remediate by verifying their identity and resetting their password without help desk intervention.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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 — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Configure Microsoft Entra ID Protection to detect risky sign-ins and create a conditional access policy that requires MFA for sensitive apps. Enable the risky user policy to require password change, and use Microsoft Authenticator for self-remediation. — Option B is correct because it uses Microsoft Entra ID Protection to detect risky sign-ins and a Conditional Access policy to require MFA for sensitive applications, meeting the MFA enforcement requirement. The risky user policy requiring a password change combined with Microsoft Authenticator for self-remediation allows users to resolve their own risk without admin intervention, satisfying the self-remediation requirement. This approach minimizes infrastructure complexity by relying entirely on cloud-native services rather than on-premises components.
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: "minimum / minimize". Asks for the least resource use — fewest addresses, smallest subnet, lowest overhead. Eliminate over-provisioned options even if they would technically work.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 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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