The answer is that the device is noncompliant because it has not synced in over 24 hours. In Microsoft Intune, compliance policies require a device to check in at least once every 24 hours to re-evaluate its state; if a device like LAPTOP001 shows a LastSyncDateTime of three days ago, Intune automatically marks it as noncompliant since it cannot confirm the device still meets policy requirements without a recent sync. On the MD-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of the Intune sync frequency default—a common trap is assuming noncompliance is due to a specific policy violation like missing updates, when the root cause is simply a stale sync. Remember the 24-hour rule: if the last sync timestamp exceeds one day, the device is flagged as noncompliant regardless of its management state. A helpful memory tip is “Sync or sink”—if a device hasn’t synced in a day, its compliance status sinks to noncompliant.
MD-102 Manage and maintain devices Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of manage and maintain 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.
Exhibit
Refer to the exhibit.
Get-IntuneManagedDevice -DeviceName "LAPTOP001" | Select-Object -Property DeviceName, LastSyncDateTime, ComplianceState, ManagementState, OSVersion
The above PowerShell cmdlet returns the following output:
The device last synced 3 days ago. What is the most likely reason for the noncompliant status?
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 device has not synced in over 24 hours.
The device last synced 3 days ago, and the output shows ComplianceState: noncompliant. In Microsoft Intune, a device that has not checked in for more than 24 hours is automatically marked as noncompliant because the compliance policies cannot be evaluated without a recent sync. The LastSyncDateTime of 2025-03-15T08:30:00Z confirms the device has not synced within the required 24-hour window, making C the correct answer.
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 device is running an outdated OS version.
Why it's wrong here
The OS version is 10.0.19044, which is Windows 10 20H2, still supported.
✗
The device has been retired or wiped.
Why it's wrong here
The management state is 'managed', not 'retired'.
✓
The device has not synced in over 24 hours.
Why this is correct
Many compliance policies require a recent sync to remain compliant.
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 device has no compliance policy assigned.
Why it's wrong here
The device shows a compliance state, so a policy is assigned.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates assume 'noncompliant' always means a policy rule violation (like outdated OS or missing encryption) rather than recognizing that Intune can mark a device noncompliant simply for failing to sync within the required timeframe, even if all other policies are satisfied.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The device shows a compliance state, so a policy is assigned.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Intune evaluates compliance based on the last check-in time using the device's MDM sync interval, which defaults to every 8 hours but can be extended. The 'noncompliant' status due to missed sync is enforced by the 'Mark devices with no recent check-in as noncompliant' setting in the compliance policy, which uses a grace period (default 24 hours) before flagging the device. This behavior is tied to the MDM protocol's heartbeat mechanism, where the device must report its status to the Intune service to remain compliant.
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 and maintain devices — This question tests Manage and maintain devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: The device has not synced in over 24 hours. — The device last synced 3 days ago, and the output shows ComplianceState: noncompliant. In Microsoft Intune, a device that has not checked in for more than 24 hours is automatically marked as noncompliant because the compliance policies cannot be evaluated without a recent sync. The LastSyncDateTime of 2025-03-15T08:30:00Z confirms the device has not synced within the required 24-hour window, making C the correct answer.
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.
About these practice questions
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These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.
Variation 1. Refer to the exhibit. You run a PowerShell cmdlet to get managed devices and see the output above. The device is noncompliant. What is the most likely reason?
medium
A.The device is not enrolled.
B.The device name is too long.
C.The OS version is not supported.
✓ D.The device has not synced recently.
Why D: The device is noncompliant because it has not synced recently. In Microsoft Intune, devices must regularly check in to report their compliance status; if a device fails to sync within the configured grace period (typically 30 days by default), it is marked as noncompliant. The PowerShell output shows the device is enrolled and managed, but the last sync time is missing or outdated, triggering the noncompliant state.
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Question Discussion
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