The correct answer is to create a Conditional Access policy that requires device compliance, paired with a device compliance policy that checks for TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. This combination works because Conditional Access in Microsoft Entra ID evaluates the device’s compliance status before granting access to corporate resources, while the Intune compliance policy acts as the gatekeeper by verifying hardware-level security features like TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot. On the MD-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Conditional Access policies enforce access control based on device health, not just identity. A common trap is confusing this with Windows Hello for Business, which handles passwordless authentication, or with Autopilot, which provisions devices. Remember the core principle: Conditional Access is the “if-then” logic for access, and compliance policies are the “checklist” for device health. A useful memory tip is “Conditional Access checks the pass, compliance checks the hardware.”
MD-102 Protect devices Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of protect 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.
A company uses Microsoft Intune to manage Windows 11 devices. They want to ensure that only devices with a TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot enabled can access corporate resources in Microsoft Entra ID. What should they 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 Conditional Access policy that requires device compliance and a device compliance policy that checks TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
Option B is correct: Conditional Access with device compliance policy is the standard method to enforce device health before granting access. Option A (Windows Hello for Business) is for passwordless authentication, not device health enforcement. Option C (Attack surface reduction) is a Defender policy for threat protection. Option D (Autopilot) is for device provisioning, not access control.
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.
✗
Configure Windows Hello for Business in Intune
Why it's wrong here
Windows Hello for Business is for passwordless sign-in, not device health enforcement.
✗
Deploy an attack surface reduction rule in Microsoft Defender XDR
Why it's wrong here
Attack surface reduction rules mitigate threats but don't enforce device health for access.
✗
Use Windows Autopilot to enforce TPM and Secure Boot during provisioning
Why it's wrong here
Autopilot provisions devices but doesn't enforce ongoing compliance checks.
✓
Create a Conditional Access policy that requires device compliance and a device compliance policy that checks TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot
Why this is correct
Conditional Access with compliance policy enforces health requirements before access.
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.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this MD-102 question in full detail.
Identify which MD-102 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.
Protect devices — This question tests Protect devices — 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 requires device compliance and a device compliance policy that checks TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot — Option B is correct: Conditional Access with device compliance policy is the standard method to enforce device health before granting access. Option A (Windows Hello for Business) is for passwordless authentication, not device health enforcement. Option C (Attack surface reduction) is a Defender policy for threat protection. Option D (Autopilot) is for device provisioning, not access control.
What should I do if I get this MD-102 question wrong?
Identify which MD-102 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.
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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