Quick Answer
The two required components for Windows Autopilot are Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD). Intune is essential because it manages the device configuration profiles, compliance policies, and application deployments that define the Autopilot deployment experience, while Entra ID provides the identity and device registration infrastructure that allows Autopilot to associate a device with its hardware hash and authenticate the user during the out-of-box experience. On the MD-102 exam, this question tests your understanding that Autopilot is not a standalone service but a dependency chain—without Entra ID, the device cannot be recognized or joined to the cloud domain, and without Intune, there is no policy to apply. A common trap is thinking that Windows Update for Business or Configuration Manager is required, but the core duo is always Intune plus Entra ID. Memory tip: think “Identity and Management”—Entra ID handles who the device is, Intune handles what it does.
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.
Your organization is planning to use Microsoft Intune for Windows device management. Which TWO components are required for a successful Windows Autopilot deployment?
Microsoft Endpoint Manager (MDM authority)
Why wrong: MDM authority is a setting, not a component.
Microsoft Entra ID
Required for identity and device registration.
Windows Server Active Directory
Why wrong: Not required for pure cloud Autopilot.
Microsoft Configuration Manager
Why wrong: Optional co-management.
Microsoft Intune
Required for device management.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) is required for Windows Autopilot because it provides the identity and device registration infrastructure. Autopilot uses Entra ID to associate a device with its hardware hash (via the OEM or partner portal) and to authenticate the user during the out-of-box experience (OOBE). Without Entra ID, the device cannot be recognized as an Autopilot device and cannot join the cloud domain.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
Microsoft Endpoint Manager (MDM authority)
Why it's wrong here
MDM authority is a setting, not a component.
Microsoft Entra ID
Why this is correct
Required for identity and device registration.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Windows Server Active Directory
Why it's wrong here
Not required for pure cloud Autopilot.
Microsoft Configuration Manager
Why it's wrong here
Optional co-management.
Microsoft Intune
Why this is correct
Required for device management.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates often confuse Microsoft Endpoint Manager (the admin portal) with Intune (the actual MDM service), leading them to select Option A instead of recognizing that Intune itself is the required MDM component.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, Windows Autopilot relies on the device's hardware hash (a 4KB base64-encoded string) being uploaded to the Autopilot service via Microsoft Entra ID. During OOBE, the device contacts the Autopilot deployment service (which is part of the Intune/Entra ID infrastructure) to retrieve the deployment profile. The profile specifies settings like user-driven or self-deploying mode, and the device automatically joins Entra ID and enrolls in Intune without requiring any on-premises infrastructure.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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.
What to study next
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FAQ
Prepare infrastructure for devices — This question tests Prepare infrastructure for devices — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: Microsoft Entra ID — Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) is required for Windows Autopilot because it provides the identity and device registration infrastructure. Autopilot uses Entra ID to associate a device with its hardware hash (via the OEM or partner portal) and to authenticate the user during the out-of-box experience (OOBE). Without Entra ID, the device cannot be recognized as an Autopilot device and cannot join the cloud domain.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This MD-102 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the MD-102 exam.
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