The answer is that missing or removed BitLocker key protectors cause the protection status to show as off, leading to Intune non-compliance even when the drive is encrypted. This happens because BitLocker’s encryption state and its active protection state are two different things; `manage-bde -status` reports “Protection Off” when the key protectors—such as the TPM protector—are absent, meaning the encryption key is stored insecurely and the data is not actively safeguarded. Intune’s compliance policy specifically checks the protection status, not just whether encryption is enabled, so devices without valid protectors are flagged as non-compliant. On the MD-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding that encryption alone does not equal compliance—the key protector requirement is a common trap where candidates confuse “encrypted” with “protected.” Remember the mnemonic: “No protector, no protector—Intune sees protection off, not encryption on.”
MD-102 Manage, maintain, and protect devices Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of manage, maintain, and protect devices. Examine the command output carefully: the correct answer depends on what the output actually shows, not on general recall alone. 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.
A company uses Microsoft Intune to manage Windows 10 devices. They have a compliance policy that requires BitLocker to be enabled. Some devices are marked as non-compliant even though BitLocker appears to be on. The administrator runs 'manage-bde -status' on a non-compliant device and sees that the protection status is 'Protection Off'. What is the most likely cause?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The BitLocker key protectors are missing or have been removed.
The compliance policy requires BitLocker to be enabled, but 'manage-bde -status' shows 'Protection Off'. This indicates that while the drive is encrypted, BitLocker is not actively protecting the data because the key protectors (such as the TPM protector) are missing or have been removed. Intune checks the protection status, not just encryption state, so when protectors are absent, the device is marked non-compliant.
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.
✓
The BitLocker key protectors are missing or have been removed.
Why this is correct
Without key protectors, BitLocker protection is suspended.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The TPM is not initialized.
Why it's wrong here
TPM issues would prevent encryption, but protection off indicates suspension.
✗
The device has a recovery password protector but no TPM protector.
Why it's wrong here
Recovery password is a valid protector; suspension is due to missing protectors.
✗
The device uses a different encryption method (e.g., XTS-AES 256 vs AES 128).
Why it's wrong here
Encryption method does not affect protection status.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates confuse 'encrypted' with 'protected'—BitLocker can encrypt a drive without active protection if key protectors are missing, and Intune compliance policies specifically require protection to be on, not just encryption to be present.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
BitLocker's 'Protection On' status requires at least one valid key protector (e.g., TPM, recovery password, or startup key) to be present and accessible at boot. When protectors are removed via 'manage-bde -protectors -delete' or due to a TPM clear, the volume remains encrypted but unprotected, causing Intune's compliance check (which queries Win32_EncryptableVolume or the BitLocker WMI provider) to report non-compliance. In real-world scenarios, this often occurs after a BIOS update or TPM reset that invalidates the TPM protector without re-adding it.
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 cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
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, maintain, and protect devices — This question tests Manage, maintain, and protect devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The BitLocker key protectors are missing or have been removed. — The compliance policy requires BitLocker to be enabled, but 'manage-bde -status' shows 'Protection Off'. This indicates that while the drive is encrypted, BitLocker is not actively protecting the data because the key protectors (such as the TPM protector) are missing or have been removed. Intune checks the protection status, not just encryption state, so when protectors are absent, the device is marked non-compliant.
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.
Are there clue words in this question I should notice?
Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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