The answer is that the device must be registered as an Autopilot device, it must be joined to Azure AD, and it must be running a supported edition of Windows 10 or later. Self-deploying mode is designed for zero-touch provisioning of shared or kiosk devices, so Azure AD join is mandatory because it establishes a device identity and enables policy application before any user signs in—a critical distinction from hybrid Azure AD join, which requires user interaction. On the MD-102 exam, this question tests your understanding of provisioning modes and their prerequisites; a common trap is confusing self-deploying mode with user-driven mode, which allows hybrid join. Remember that self-deploying mode is strictly Azure AD join only, and the device must be pre-registered in Windows Autopilot to pull the correct deployment profile. A helpful memory tip is "No user, no hybrid"—if there is no user interaction, you cannot use hybrid Azure AD join, so the device must be pure Azure AD joined.
MD-102 Manage and maintain devices Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of manage and maintain devices. Match the stated requirement to the specific cloud service, access model, or configuration option — many options are valid in isolation but not for this scenario. 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 THREE conditions must be met for a Windows 10 device to be able to use Windows Autopilot self-deploying mode?
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The device must be Azure AD joined.
Azure AD join is required for self-deploying mode because this mode provisions a device for shared or kiosk scenarios without user interaction. The device must be joined to Azure AD to establish a device identity and allow policy application before any user signs in, which is a core requirement for the zero-touch provisioning flow.
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.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✓
The device must have a TPM 2.0 chip.
Why this is correct
TPM 2.0 is required for attestation in self-deploying mode.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The device must be Hybrid Azure AD joined.
Why it's wrong here
Hybrid join is not supported in self-deploying mode.
✓
The device must be registered as an Autopilot device.
Why this is correct
Autopilot registration is required for all Autopilot modes.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
A user must be assigned to the device in Autopilot.
Why it's wrong here
Self-deploying mode is for userless devices.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates often confuse self-deploying mode with user-driven modes and incorrectly assume a user must be assigned, or they think Hybrid Azure AD join is supported in self-deploying mode, but Microsoft explicitly restricts self-deploying to Azure AD join only.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Self-deploying mode leverages the TPM 2.0 to perform hardware-bound attestation during the provisioning process, which verifies the device's identity against the Autopilot registration without requiring user credentials. Under the hood, the device uses the Windows Autopilot Deployment Program (WADP) to download a provisioning package from the Microsoft Intune service, and the TPM ensures that the device hash matches the registered hash, preventing unauthorized provisioning. In a real-world scenario, this mode is ideal for deploying conference room PCs where IT wants to pre-configure the device and have it automatically join Azure AD and apply policies without any user present.
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 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.
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 must be Azure AD joined. — Azure AD join is required for self-deploying mode because this mode provisions a device for shared or kiosk scenarios without user interaction. The device must be joined to Azure AD to establish a device identity and allow policy application before any user signs in, which is a core requirement for the zero-touch provisioning flow.
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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