AZ-900 Describe Azure management and governance Practice Question
What is the purpose of Microsoft Entra ID Protection?
⚠ Common exam trap
Candidates often confuse Microsoft Entra ID Protection with Microsoft Entra ID Identity Governance or Microsoft Entra Connect, mistakenly thinking it handles account lifecycle or synchronization instead of focusing on risk detection and automated response.
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
✓
To detect and automatically respond to suspicious identity-related risks
Microsoft Entra ID Protection is a security tool that uses machine learning and heuristics to detect suspicious activities such as leaked credentials, impossible travel, and anonymous IP address sign-ins. It can automatically respond to these risks by requiring multi-factor authentication or blocking sign-ins, thereby protecting identities without manual intervention.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
To encrypt user passwords stored in Microsoft Entra ID
Why it's wrong here
Microsoft Entra ID never stores plaintext passwords; it stores password hashes, and encryption at rest is handled by the platform's internal security controls. Identity Protection does not encrypt passwords; instead, it analyzes telemetry such as leaked credential reports and anomalous sign-in patterns to evaluate risk, so password hashing is outside its scope.
- ✓
To detect and automatically respond to suspicious identity-related risks
Why this is correct
Identity Protection is a Microsoft Entra ID feature that uses machine learning algorithms to detect suspicious activities such as impossible travel, anonymous IP addresses, atypical sign-ins, and leaked credentials. It assigns a risk level to sign-ins and users, and can automatically enforce policies (via Conditional Access) to require MFA, block access, or trigger a secure password change.
- ✗
To manage the lifecycle of user accounts in Microsoft Entra ID
Why it's wrong here
User account lifecycle management—such as creating, updating, or deactivating accounts—is handled by Microsoft Entra ID provisioning services (e.g., HR-driven provisioning or SCIM synchronization). Identity Protection does not provision or manage accounts; it evaluates the risk of existing identities to determine whether a sign-in or user account has been compromised.
- ✗
To synchronize identities between on-premises AD and Microsoft Entra ID
Why it's wrong here
Identity synchronization between on-premises Active Directory and Microsoft Entra ID is performed by Microsoft Entra Connect (formerly Azure AD Connect), not by Identity Protection. Identity Protection is a risk-based monitoring service; it does not copy or replicate directory objects, passwords, or group memberships between identity stores.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Microsoft Trust Center
Key term
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID is a cloud-based identity and access management service that lets employees sign in and access resources both inside and outside of your organization.
Key term
Security
Security in IT is the practice of protecting systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access, damage, or theft.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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