The correct answer is to create a device compliance policy that uses Defender for Endpoint risk level, then enforce it with Conditional Access. This works because Intune’s compliance policies can ingest the real-time risk score from Defender for Endpoint—such as high, medium, or low—and mark the device as noncompliant when the risk threshold is exceeded. A corresponding Conditional Access policy then automatically blocks that noncompliant device from accessing corporate resources like Exchange or SharePoint. On the MD-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the integration between endpoint protection and identity-driven access control; a common trap is trying to use a configuration profile or a direct Defender alert action instead of the compliance policy bridge. Remember the chain: Defender assesses risk, Intune evaluates compliance, and Conditional Access enforces the block. A useful memory tip is “Defender detects, Intune reflects, Conditional Access rejects.”
MD-102 Manage and maintain devices Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of manage and maintain devices. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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 organization uses Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. You need to ensure that when a device is determined to be at high risk by Defender, it is automatically blocked from accessing corporate resources. What should you configure?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Create a device compliance policy that uses Defender for Endpoint risk level, then use Conditional Access.
Option A is correct because it combines a device compliance policy that evaluates the Defender for Endpoint risk level with a Conditional Access policy that blocks access when the device is noncompliant. This is the only supported method to automatically block corporate resource access based on real-time risk assessment from Defender for Endpoint.
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 device compliance policy that uses Defender for Endpoint risk level, then use Conditional Access.
Why this is correct
This sets compliance based on risk and Conditional Access blocks non-compliant devices.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Configure a device compliance policy with 'Require Defender for Endpoint' setting.
Why it's wrong here
This only checks if Defender is installed, not risk level.
✗
Configure a device configuration policy to block access based on risk.
Why it's wrong here
Device configuration policies do not block access.
✗
Configure an app protection policy to block access based on device risk.
Why it's wrong here
App protection policies do not block device access.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often think a device configuration policy or app protection policy can enforce risk-based blocking, but only the combination of a compliance policy with Defender risk evaluation and Conditional Access achieves this in Intune.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, the device compliance policy queries the Defender for Endpoint API for the device's risk score (low, medium, high, or severe). Conditional Access then evaluates the compliance state and denies access to cloud apps like Exchange Online or SharePoint. In a real-world scenario, a device with a high risk score due to active malware would be immediately blocked from accessing corporate email, while a low-risk device would be allowed through.
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 MD-102 question in full detail.
Manage and maintain devices — This question tests Manage and maintain devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Create a device compliance policy that uses Defender for Endpoint risk level, then use Conditional Access. — Option A is correct because it combines a device compliance policy that evaluates the Defender for Endpoint risk level with a Conditional Access policy that blocks access when the device is noncompliant. This is the only supported method to automatically block corporate resource access based on real-time risk assessment from Defender for Endpoint.
What should I do if I get this MD-102 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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Question Discussion
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