- A
Implement Microsoft Entra Pass-through Authentication
Why wrong: Pass-through authentication does not synchronize password changes immediately; it validates passwords on-premises but does not sync changes.
- B
Implement password hash synchronization with password writeback
Password hash synchronization syncs password changes immediately and writeback allows changes to be written back to on-premises AD. Hashing is stored but using salt prevents plaintext exposure.
- C
Create cloud-only user accounts in Microsoft Entra ID
Why wrong: Cloud-only accounts do not integrate with on-premises Active Directory, so users cannot use existing passwords.
- D
Federate with Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)
Why wrong: Federation does not synchronize passwords; it relies on on-premises authentication and does not provide immediate sync of changes.
Quick Answer
The correct answer is Microsoft Entra Pass-Through Authentication. This solution validates passwords directly against on-premises Active Directory without ever storing password hashes in the cloud, which directly satisfies the requirement to avoid cloud hash storage while enabling immediate synchronization of password changes. On the AZ-305 exam, this question tests your ability to distinguish between password hash sync and pass-through authentication, with the common trap being that password writeback handles cloud-to-on-premises sync, not the immediate on-premises-to-cloud sync described here. Remember that password hash synchronization inherently stores hashes in Azure AD, making it incompatible with the "no cloud storage" constraint. For the exam, think of pass-through as a live validation tunnel that keeps all password data on-premises, while password hash sync is a snapshot upload. Memory tip: "Pass-through passes the buck back on-prem; hash sync hands over the hash to 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 company is migrating on-premises Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID. You need to ensure that users can authenticate using their existing on-premises passwords and that password changes are synchronized immediately. The solution must minimize latency and avoid storing password hashes in the cloud. What should you implement?
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.
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 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
Implement password hash synchronization with password writeback
Option B is correct because password hash synchronization with password writeback meets the requirement to synchronize password changes immediately while avoiding storing password hashes in the cloud. However, the question explicitly states 'avoid storing password hashes in the cloud,' which contradicts password hash synchronization (which does store hashes). The correct solution for immediate password change sync without cloud hash storage is Microsoft Entra Pass-through Authentication (Option A), which validates passwords on-premises without storing hashes in Azure AD. The exam trap is that password writeback is for cloud-to-on-premises sync, not immediate on-premises-to-cloud sync.
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.
- ✗
Implement Microsoft Entra Pass-through Authentication
Why it's wrong here
Pass-through authentication does not synchronize password changes immediately; it validates passwords on-premises but does not sync changes.
- ✓
Implement password hash synchronization with password writeback
Why this is correct
Password hash synchronization syncs password changes immediately and writeback allows changes to be written back to on-premises AD. Hashing is stored but using salt prevents plaintext exposure.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "minimum / minimize", "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Create cloud-only user accounts in Microsoft Entra ID
Why it's wrong here
Cloud-only accounts do not integrate with on-premises Active Directory, so users cannot use existing passwords.
- ✗
Federate with Active Directory Federation Services (AD FS)
Why it's wrong here
Federation does not synchronize passwords; it relies on on-premises authentication and does not provide immediate sync of changes.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse password writeback (cloud-to-on-premises) with immediate on-premises-to-cloud password synchronization, and overlook that password hash synchronization inherently stores hashes in the cloud, directly contradicting the 'avoid storing password hashes' requirement.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Password hash synchronization uses the Microsoft Entra Connect Sync engine to hash on-premises passwords using the MD4 algorithm and sync them to Azure AD every 2 minutes by default. Password writeback allows password changes in the cloud to be written back to on-premises Active Directory, but it does not provide immediate synchronization of on-premises password changes to the cloud. For immediate synchronization without cloud hash storage, organizations must use Pass-through Authentication combined with seamless SSO, which validates passwords on-premises via an agent.
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 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.
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: Implement password hash synchronization with password writeback — Option B is correct because password hash synchronization with password writeback meets the requirement to synchronize password changes immediately while avoiding storing password hashes in the cloud. However, the question explicitly states 'avoid storing password hashes in the cloud,' which contradicts password hash synchronization (which does store hashes). The correct solution for immediate password change sync without cloud hash storage is Microsoft Entra Pass-through Authentication (Option A), which validates passwords on-premises without storing hashes in Azure AD. The exam trap is that password writeback is for cloud-to-on-premises sync, not immediate on-premises-to-cloud sync.
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", "immediately / without restart". 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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