The correct choice is to implement Conditional Access policies with 'Require device to be marked as compliant' because this setting directly enforces Intune device compliance for all authentication attempts, including those from legacy protocols like POP3, IMAP, or SMTP. Conditional Access evaluates the compliance status reported by Intune in real time, and when paired with a device compliance policy that does not mandate modern authentication, it can still block or allow access for legacy clients—though these protocols remain inherently less secure. On the AZ-305 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how to bridge legacy authentication with modern device management; a common trap is assuming legacy protocols require a separate solution like app protection policies, but Conditional Access can handle both when configured correctly. Remember the memory tip: "Legacy needs compliance, not modern"—the key is that device compliance enforcement works regardless of the authentication protocol used.
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 uses Microsoft Intune for device management. You need to ensure that only devices that are compliant with security policies can access corporate resources. The solution must also support legacy authentication protocols. What should you implement?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Conditional Access policies with 'Require device to be marked as compliant'
Option C is correct because the requirement is to enforce compliance-based access control for devices managed by Microsoft Intune, while also supporting legacy authentication protocols. Conditional Access policies with 'Require device to be marked as compliant' evaluate the device's compliance status reported by Intune and can block or allow access based on that status. This works with legacy authentication protocols (e.g., POP3, IMAP, SMTP) when combined with a compliance policy that does not require modern authentication, though legacy protocols are inherently less secure and should be used cautiously.
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 Defender for Endpoint
Why it's wrong here
Defender for Endpoint is an endpoint detection and response solution, not an access control mechanism.
✗
Device-based Conditional Access with 'Require hybrid Azure AD joined device'
Why it's wrong here
Hybrid join requires on-premises AD and may not support legacy authentication easily.
✓
Conditional Access policies with 'Require device to be marked as compliant'
Why this is correct
Conditional Access can enforce device compliance and can be configured to allow legacy authentication with appropriate conditions.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Microsoft Entra application proxy
Why it's wrong here
Application proxy provides remote access to on-premises web apps but does not enforce device compliance.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse 'device compliance' with 'hybrid Azure AD join' or 'Microsoft Defender for Endpoint', assuming that any security tool or join state can enforce access control, but only a Conditional Access policy explicitly targeting the device compliance attribute can enforce Intune-based compliance for both modern and legacy authentication.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Conditional Access policies with 'Require device to be marked as compliant' rely on the device's compliance state being reported to Azure AD via the Intune Management Extension or the Microsoft Intune Company Portal app. The device must be enrolled in Intune and have a compliance policy assigned; the policy evaluates conditions like OS version, encryption status, and threat level. A real-world scenario is when an organization uses legacy email protocols (e.g., Exchange ActiveSync without modern auth) — the Conditional Access policy can still block non-compliant devices by evaluating the device ID during the authentication attempt, even if the protocol itself is legacy.
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: Conditional Access policies with 'Require device to be marked as compliant' — Option C is correct because the requirement is to enforce compliance-based access control for devices managed by Microsoft Intune, while also supporting legacy authentication protocols. Conditional Access policies with 'Require device to be marked as compliant' evaluate the device's compliance status reported by Intune and can block or allow access based on that status. This works with legacy authentication protocols (e.g., POP3, IMAP, SMTP) when combined with a compliance policy that does not require modern authentication, though legacy protocols are inherently less secure and should be used cautiously.
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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