Quick Answer
The correct answer is Conditional Access policies and Microsoft Entra ID Protection. Entra ID Protection is the detection engine that analyzes sign-in signals—such as anonymous IP addresses, atypical travel, or leaked credentials—to assign a risk level to each sign-in or user. Conditional Access policies then act as the enforcement mechanism, automatically applying actions like blocking the sign-in or requiring MFA based on that risk level. On the AZ-305 exam, this pairing tests your understanding of how to implement risk-based conditional access Azure AD scenarios without relying on third-party tools. A common trap is choosing Azure AD Identity Governance or Privileged Identity Management, which handle access reviews and just-in-time roles, not real-time risk enforcement. Remember the memory tip: “Detect with Protection, enforce with Condition”—Entra ID Protection identifies the risk, Conditional Access decides the response.
This AZ-305 practice question tests your understanding of design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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 uses Microsoft Entra ID for identity management. You need to implement a solution that automatically blocks sign-ins from risky users and requires multi-factor authentication (MFA) when a sign-in risk is detected. Which TWO services should you use? (Choose two.)
Microsoft Purview
Why wrong: Purview is for data governance and classification.
Microsoft Entra ID Protection
Identity Protection detects risky users and sign-ins.
Microsoft Defender XDR
Why wrong: Defender XDR is for threat detection, not identity access control.
Microsoft Intune
Why wrong: Intune manages device compliance, not risk-based access.
Conditional Access policies
Conditional Access uses risk signals to enforce MFA or block access.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Microsoft Entra ID Protection
Microsoft Entra ID Protection (B) is the service that detects sign-in risks (e.g., anonymous IP, atypical travel) and labels users or sign-ins as risky. Conditional Access policies (E) then enforce automated responses, such as blocking the sign-in or requiring MFA, based on the risk level from Entra ID Protection. Together, they provide the detection and enforcement mechanism described in the requirement.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Microsoft Purview
Why it's wrong here
Purview is for data governance and classification.
Microsoft Entra ID Protection
Why this is correct
Identity Protection detects risky users and sign-ins.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Microsoft Defender XDR
Why it's wrong here
Defender XDR is for threat detection, not identity access control.
Microsoft Intune
Why it's wrong here
Intune manages device compliance, not risk-based access.
Conditional Access policies
Why this is correct
Conditional Access uses risk signals to enforce MFA or block access.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Microsoft Defender XDR (which includes identity threat detection) with the policy enforcement layer, but only Conditional Access policies can apply the automated MFA or block action based on risk from Entra ID Protection.
Detailed technical explanation
Entra ID Protection uses machine learning models to calculate a risk score (low, medium, high) for each sign-in based on signals like leaked credentials, impossible travel, and anonymous IP addresses. Conditional Access policies evaluate this risk level at authentication time via the 'Sign-in risk' condition, allowing granular actions such as 'Block access' or 'Require multi-factor authentication' without requiring custom scripting. This integration is critical for zero-trust architectures where access decisions are dynamic and context-aware.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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
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FAQ
Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — This question tests Design identity, governance, and monitoring solutions — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Microsoft Entra ID Protection — Microsoft Entra ID Protection (B) is the service that detects sign-in risks (e.g., anonymous IP, atypical travel) and labels users or sign-ins as risky. Conditional Access policies (E) then enforce automated responses, such as blocking the sign-in or requiring MFA, based on the risk level from Entra ID Protection. Together, they provide the detection and enforcement mechanism described in the requirement.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Same concept, more angles
These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. A company uses Microsoft Entra ID. They need to monitor sign-in logs for anomalous activity (e.g., sign-ins from unfamiliar locations) and automatically take action such as requiring MFA or blocking sign-in. Which Microsoft Entra ID feature should they configure?
mediumWhy A: Identity Protection is the correct feature because it is specifically designed to detect anomalous sign-in activities, such as sign-ins from unfamiliar locations or anonymous IP addresses, and can automatically trigger risk-based remediation actions like requiring MFA or blocking sign-ins. It leverages machine learning models and real-time risk detections to assess sign-in risks and apply policies accordingly, directly meeting the requirement for monitoring and automated response.
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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