The recommended method is to register the devices in Windows Autopilot and deploy an Autopilot profile. This is correct because Windows Autopilot automates the entire provisioning process for new devices not yet joined to Microsoft Entra ID, using the out-of-box experience (OOBE) to join Entra ID and enroll in Intune without any manual imaging or intervention. On the MD-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of modern deployment versus traditional imaging—a common trap is thinking you need to pre-join devices or use a provisioning package, but Autopilot handles zero-touch enrollment from the factory. Remember that Autopilot profiles are applied after device registration via hardware hash, so the key is registering first, then assigning the profile. Memory tip: “Register first, profile second—Autopilot does the rest.”
MD-102 Prepare infrastructure for devices Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of prepare infrastructure for devices. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. 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.
You need to deploy Windows 10 Enterprise to 100 new computers using Microsoft Intune. The computers are not yet joined to Microsoft Entra ID. What is the recommended method?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Register the devices in Windows Autopilot and deploy an Autopilot profile.
Windows Autopilot is the recommended method for deploying Windows 10 Enterprise to new devices that are not yet joined to Microsoft Entra ID because it automates the entire provisioning process—from joining Entra ID to enrolling in Intune—without requiring any manual intervention or imaging. By registering the devices in Autopilot and deploying an Autopilot profile, the out-of-box experience (OOBE) is customized to join Entra ID and enroll in Intune automatically, ensuring a zero-touch deployment that aligns with modern management best practices.
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.
✗
Join each device to Entra ID manually and then enroll in Intune.
Why it's wrong here
Manual process is not scalable.
✗
Create a provisioning package using Windows Configuration Designer and deploy via USB.
Why it's wrong here
This is possible but not the most efficient for 100 devices; Autopilot is better.
✓
Register the devices in Windows Autopilot and deploy an Autopilot profile.
Why this is correct
Autopilot automates the deployment and enrollment process.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Use a Configuration Manager task sequence to deploy the OS.
Why it's wrong here
Configuration Manager is not part of Intune; Autopilot is the Intune-centric method.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse provisioning packages (Option B) as the recommended method for cloud-only deployments, but Autopilot is specifically designed for zero-touch, cloud-native provisioning and is the correct answer for new devices not yet joined to Entra ID.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Windows Autopilot uses a device's hardware hash (collected during OOBE or via a CSV file) to uniquely identify it in the Microsoft Intune admin center, where an Autopilot profile is assigned. During OOBE, the device contacts the Autopilot deployment service, which applies the profile to automatically join Entra ID, enroll in Intune, and apply device configuration policies—all without any local admin credentials or imaging. A subtle behavior is that Autopilot requires the device to have network connectivity during OOBE; if the network is not available, the process falls back to standard OOBE, which can cause deployment failures in environments without internet access.
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
An e-commerce site experiences heavy traffic on Black Friday and near-zero traffic during off-peak weeks. Rather than provisioning permanent large VMs, the team uses auto-scaling groups that add capacity automatically under load and reduce it overnight. Questions like this test whether you understand elasticity, availability zones, and cloud compute scaling patterns.
Related glossary terms
Concepts from this question explained
These glossary pages explain the core terms tested in this MD-102 question in full detail.
Prepare infrastructure for devices — This question tests Prepare infrastructure for devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Register the devices in Windows Autopilot and deploy an Autopilot profile. — Windows Autopilot is the recommended method for deploying Windows 10 Enterprise to new devices that are not yet joined to Microsoft Entra ID because it automates the entire provisioning process—from joining Entra ID to enrolling in Intune—without requiring any manual intervention or imaging. By registering the devices in Autopilot and deploying an Autopilot profile, the out-of-box experience (OOBE) is customized to join Entra ID and enroll in Intune automatically, ensuring a zero-touch deployment that aligns with modern management best practices.
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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