- A
Create a conditional access policy that applies to all users and service principals, requiring MFA for all cloud apps, and exclude the Azure DevOps app
Why wrong: Excluding the Azure DevOps app means no conditional access for Azure DevOps.
- B
Create a conditional access policy that targets the Azure DevOps app, grant access requiring MFA for all users, and create a separate policy for service accounts that requires device compliance
Why wrong: Requiring MFA for service accounts is not feasible for automated deployments.
- C
Use Azure DevOps IP address restrictions to block external traffic and rely on VPN for external users
Why wrong: This does not meet the MFA requirement.
- D
Create a conditional access policy that applies to the Azure DevOps app, requiring MFA for all users, and exclude service accounts by user group. Then create a separate policy for service accounts that requires a compliant device
This correctly enforces MFA for users and device compliance for service accounts.
AZ-400 Develop a security and compliance plan Practice Question
This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of develop a security and compliance plan. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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 from on-premises TFS to Azure DevOps Services in the cloud. The security policy mandates that all access to Azure DevOps must go through a conditional access policy that requires multi-factor authentication (MFA) for users outside the corporate network. Additionally, the policy requires that service accounts (used for automated deployments) must use device-based authentication and cannot be interactive. You are configuring Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) conditional access. The Azure DevOps organization is connected to the corporate Entra ID tenant. You have the following options:
Option A: Create a conditional access policy that applies to all users and service principals, requiring MFA for all cloud apps, and exclude the Azure DevOps app from the policy.
Option B: Create a conditional access policy that targets the Azure DevOps app, grant access requiring MFA for all users, and create a separate policy for service accounts that requires device compliance.
Option C: Create a conditional access policy that applies to the Azure DevOps app, requiring MFA for all users, and exclude service accounts by user group. Then create a separate policy for service accounts that requires a compliant device.
Option D: Use Azure DevOps IP address restrictions to block external traffic and rely on VPN for external users.
Which option best meets the requirements?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue:
"best"Why it matters: Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
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
Create a conditional access policy that applies to the Azure DevOps app, requiring MFA for all users, and exclude service accounts by user group. Then create a separate policy for service accounts that requires a compliant device
Option C is correct. It correctly applies MFA to all users except service accounts, and uses device compliance for service accounts. Option A excludes the Azure DevOps app, which would not enforce MFA. Option B applies MFA to service accounts as well, which is not allowed for automated accounts. Option D does not provide MFA and is less secure.
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.
- ✗
Create a conditional access policy that applies to all users and service principals, requiring MFA for all cloud apps, and exclude the Azure DevOps app
Why it's wrong here
Excluding the Azure DevOps app means no conditional access for Azure DevOps.
- ✗
Create a conditional access policy that targets the Azure DevOps app, grant access requiring MFA for all users, and create a separate policy for service accounts that requires device compliance
Why it's wrong here
Requiring MFA for service accounts is not feasible for automated deployments.
- ✗
Use Azure DevOps IP address restrictions to block external traffic and rely on VPN for external users
Why it's wrong here
This does not meet the MFA requirement.
- ✓
Create a conditional access policy that applies to the Azure DevOps app, requiring MFA for all users, and exclude service accounts by user group. Then create a separate policy for service accounts that requires a compliant device
Why this is correct
This correctly enforces MFA for users and device compliance for service accounts.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "best" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
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.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- 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 AZ-400 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-400 question test?
Develop a security and compliance plan — This question tests Develop a security and compliance plan — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a conditional access policy that applies to the Azure DevOps app, requiring MFA for all users, and exclude service accounts by user group. Then create a separate policy for service accounts that requires a compliant device — Option C is correct. It correctly applies MFA to all users except service accounts, and uses device compliance for service accounts. Option A excludes the Azure DevOps app, which would not enforce MFA. Option B applies MFA to service accounts as well, which is not allowed for automated accounts. Option D does not provide MFA and is less secure.
What should I do if I get this AZ-400 question wrong?
Identify which AZ-400 exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "best". Signals that multiple options may be partially correct. Choose the option that most directly solves the exact problem described, not the one that sounds most complete.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jun 20, 2026
This AZ-400 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-400 exam.
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