The answer is that the Intune Management Extension service is not running on the device. This is the most likely cause because the Intune Management Extension (IME) service is the critical component responsible for downloading and applying policy payloads, including compliance and configuration policies, from Microsoft Intune to Windows 10 devices. When the IME service stops, the device cannot initiate a sync, resulting in a stale LastSyncTime—like the 14-day gap seen here—and a persistent 'Not compliant' status, even though the device remains enrolled and visible in the Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice output. On the MD-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Intune agent architecture and the distinction between device enrollment and active policy sync; a common trap is to assume the issue is with the enrollment state or network connectivity. Remember the memory tip: “IME is the pipeline—if it’s down, policies don’t flow.”
MD-102 Manage, maintain, and protect devices Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of manage, maintain, and 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 user reports that their Windows 10 device is not receiving policies from Microsoft Intune. The device shows as 'Not compliant' in the Intune console. You run the Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice cmdlet and see that the device is enrolled and appears in the list. However, the LastSyncTime is 14 days ago. 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 Intune Management Extension service is not running on the device.
The Intune Management Extension (IME) service is responsible for synchronizing policies, including compliance and configuration policies, from Intune to Windows 10 devices. If the IME service is not running, the device will not receive new policies or sync status, leading to a stale LastSyncTime (14 days ago) and a 'Not compliant' state, even though the device is enrolled and appears in the Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice output.
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 MDM certificate has expired.
Why it's wrong here
An expired certificate would prevent enrollment, not just sync.
✗
The device is not connected to the internet due to a proxy misconfiguration.
Why it's wrong here
Internet connectivity would affect sync but is less specific than the service issue.
✗
The device is not enrolled in Intune.
Why it's wrong here
The Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice cmdlet shows it is enrolled.
✓
The Intune Management Extension service is not running on the device.
Why this is correct
This service manages policy sync.
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.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often assume a stale LastSyncTime always indicates a network or connectivity issue (like a proxy), but the question specifically states the device is enrolled and appears in the list, pointing instead to a service-level failure like the Intune Management Extension not running.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice cmdlet shows it is enrolled.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
The Intune Management Extension (IME) runs as a Windows service (IntuneManagementExtension) and is responsible for executing PowerShell scripts, deploying Win32 apps, and syncing compliance policies. When the IME service is stopped or disabled, the device can still maintain its MDM enrollment and basic communication via the MDM agent, but policy-specific actions and compliance checks fail, leading to a stale LastSyncTime. In real-world scenarios, a common cause is a third-party security tool that inadvertently stops the IME service, or a manual misconfiguration by an administrator.
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 Intune Management Extension service is not running on the device. — The Intune Management Extension (IME) service is responsible for synchronizing policies, including compliance and configuration policies, from Intune to Windows 10 devices. If the IME service is not running, the device will not receive new policies or sync status, leading to a stale LastSyncTime (14 days ago) and a 'Not compliant' state, even though the device is enrolled and appears in the Get-MgDeviceManagementManagedDevice output.
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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