The answer is Microsoft Entra Connect, the correct choice because it enables hybrid identity synchronization by bridging on-premises Active Directory with Microsoft Entra ID, allowing users to authenticate with their existing credentials through password hash sync, pass-through authentication, or federation. This eliminates account duplication by keeping a single authoritative identity source, with optional seamless SSO for a frictionless sign-in experience. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your ability to recommend the right identity tool for migration scenarios—a common trap is confusing Entra Connect with Entra ID-only solutions like Application Proxy or B2B, which don’t sync identities. Remember the key distinction: if the requirement is to synchronize existing on-premises users to the cloud without creating new accounts, Entra Connect is the only tool that performs that sync. A helpful memory tip is “Sync to sign-in”—Entra Connect syncs identities so users can sign in with what they already have.
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 applications to Azure. You need to ensure that users can sign in using their existing on-premises Active Directory credentials without duplicating accounts. Which identity solution should you recommend?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Microsoft Entra Connect
Microsoft Entra Connect (formerly Azure AD Connect) is the correct solution because it synchronizes on-premises Active Directory identities to Microsoft Entra ID, enabling users to sign in with their existing credentials via password hash synchronization, pass-through authentication, or federation. This avoids duplicating accounts by maintaining a single identity source of truth, with optional seamless single sign-on (SSO) for a transparent 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.
✗
Microsoft Entra B2B collaboration
Why it's wrong here
B2B collaboration is for inviting external users, not for synchronizing internal on-premises identities.
✗
Microsoft Entra External ID
Why it's wrong here
External ID is for B2B/B2C scenarios, not for synchronizing existing on-premises identities.
✓
Microsoft Entra Connect
Why this is correct
Entra Connect synchronizes on-premises AD with Microsoft Entra ID, allowing users to sign in with their existing credentials.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Microsoft Entra Domain Services
Why it's wrong here
Domain Services provides managed domain services but does not synchronize identities from on-premises AD.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Microsoft Entra Domain Services (which provides domain-join capabilities for Azure VMs) with identity synchronization, but it does not sync user credentials for cloud app authentication.
Trap categories for this question
Scenario analysis trap
External ID is for B2B/B2C scenarios, not for synchronizing existing on-premises identities.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Microsoft Entra Connect uses the DirSync engine to replicate object changes from on-premises AD via the Microsoft Identity Manager (MIM) sync engine, supporting password hash sync (using SHA256 hashing) or pass-through authentication (via an on-premises agent). A subtle behavior is that password writeback requires Azure AD Premium P1 or P2, and seamless SSO leverages Kerberos delegation to issue a Kerberos ticket for Azure AD without prompting for credentials again.
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: Microsoft Entra Connect — Microsoft Entra Connect (formerly Azure AD Connect) is the correct solution because it synchronizes on-premises Active Directory identities to Microsoft Entra ID, enabling users to sign in with their existing credentials via password hash synchronization, pass-through authentication, or federation. This avoids duplicating accounts by maintaining a single identity source of truth, with optional seamless single sign-on (SSO) for a transparent 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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