MD-102 Manage and maintain devices Practice Question
A company uses Microsoft Intune to manage macOS devices. They need to deploy a custom plist configuration file to set security settings. Which policy type should they use?
⚠ Common exam trap
It's easy for candidates to confuse 'custom configuration profiles' with 'compliance policies' because both involve security settings, but compliance policies only evaluate and report, not deploy configuration files.
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
✓
Device configuration profile (custom)
A custom device configuration profile in Microsoft Intune allows administrators to deploy plist files to macOS devices, enabling the configuration of settings not covered by built-in templates. This is the correct policy type for deploying a custom plist file because it directly supports uploading and assigning property list files to enforce specific security configurations.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Device configuration profile (custom)
Why this is correct
A custom device configuration profile accepts a plist payload for macOS, letting you deploy arbitrary security settings that built-in templates do not expose. This satisfies the stem's requirement to deliver a custom plist file through Intune.
- ✗
App protection policy
Why it's wrong here
App protection policies govern data handling within mobile apps, such as blocking copy-paste or requiring a PIN, and apply per-app rather than to the device. They suit protecting corporate data on BYOD apps, not deploying a macOS plist configuration profile.
- ✗
Device compliance policy
Why it's wrong here
Compliance policies evaluate conditions such as OS version or encryption state and report or restrict access; they do not push a plist payload to macOS devices. They are correct when defining pass/fail rules and conditional access triggers, not for delivering configuration settings.
- ✗
Device cleanup rule
Why it's wrong here
Device cleanup rules remove stale Intune records after a set period of inactivity; they cannot deliver configuration payloads to macOS endpoints. They suit housekeeping of inactive devices, not settings deployment. A custom macOS configuration profile is the policy type that carries a plist to managed devices.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Learn chapter
Introduction to Endpoint Management in Microsoft 365
Key term
Policy
A policy is a set of rules or guidelines that defines how an organization manages, secures, and operates its IT systems and services.
Key term
Intune
Microsoft Intune is a cloud-based service that helps organizations manage their users' devices and applications, ensuring security and compliance without needing to own or control the physical hardware.
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Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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