The answer is to collect the hardware hash of the device and ensure it has an active internet connection. The hardware hash uniquely identifies the device to the Windows Autopilot deployment service, allowing Microsoft Intune to associate it with the correct deployment profile before the device ever reaches the end user. Without this hash, the device cannot be registered in the Autopilot service, and without internet connectivity during the Out-of-Box Experience, the device cannot download its profile or authenticate with Microsoft Entra ID. On the MD-102 exam, this question tests your understanding of the prerequisite steps for a successful Autopilot deployment, often appearing as a multiple-select item where a common trap is to assume a local admin account or a USB installer is required. Remember the mnemonic “Hash and Connect” — you need the hardware hash for registration and an internet connection for profile download and authentication.
MD-102 Prepare infrastructure for devices Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of prepare infrastructure for devices. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. 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.
Which TWO actions should you take to prepare a Windows 10 device for a deployment using Windows Autopilot?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Ensure the device has an internet connection during the out-of-box experience.
Option B is correct because Windows Autopilot requires an internet connection during the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) to download the Autopilot profile from the Microsoft Intune service and to authenticate with Microsoft Entra ID. Without connectivity, the device cannot complete the enrollment or apply the deployment profile.
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 the device to Microsoft Entra ID manually.
Why it's wrong here
Autopilot joins the device automatically; manual join is not needed and may cause issues.
✓
Ensure the device has an internet connection during the out-of-box experience.
Why this is correct
Internet connectivity is required to download the Autopilot profile and complete enrollment.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
Enable BitLocker encryption on the device.
Why it's wrong here
BitLocker is not required for Autopilot; it can be configured later via policy.
✗
Upgrade the device to the latest Windows 10 version.
Why it's wrong here
Autopilot works with the preinstalled OS; upgrading is not a prerequisite.
✓
Collect the hardware hash of the device.
Why this is correct
The hardware hash is used to uniquely identify the device for Autopilot registration.
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 think manual Entra ID join or BitLocker are required steps, but Autopilot is designed to automate these tasks, and the only strict prerequisite is network connectivity during OOBE.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
During OOBE, the Autopilot client uses the hardware hash to identify the device and retrieve its profile from the Autopilot deployment service via HTTPS (TCP/443). The device must also resolve DNS names like `login.microsoftonline.com` and `autopilot.microsoft.com` to authenticate and download policies. If the device lacks internet, the OOBE will fail at the network connectivity step, preventing any further Autopilot processing.
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.
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: Ensure the device has an internet connection during the out-of-box experience. — Option B is correct because Windows Autopilot requires an internet connection during the Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE) to download the Autopilot profile from the Microsoft Intune service and to authenticate with Microsoft Entra ID. Without connectivity, the device cannot complete the enrollment or apply the deployment profile.
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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