- A
Modify the existing Windows Update for Business policy to set the deferral period to 0 days.
Why wrong: Deferral period controls how long to wait after release, but the update may still not be installed immediately if deadline is not set.
- B
Create a compliance policy that requires the update to be installed and assign it to all devices.
Why wrong: Compliance policies do not install updates; they only check compliance status.
- C
Use Configuration Manager to push the update via on-premises WSUS.
Why wrong: The environment is Intune-only; WSUS is not available.
- D
Create an update policy for Windows 10 and later using the 'Quality update' deployment ring and set the deadline to immediate.
An update policy with immediate deadline forces the update installation.
Quick Answer
The answer is to create an update policy for Windows 10 and later using a 'Quality update' deployment ring and set the deadline to immediate. This is correct because setting the deadline to zero days overrides any configured deferral periods, forcing Windows Update to download and install the out-of-band security update as soon as the device checks in, directly resolving the 'pending' status. On the MD-102 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of how Intune’s Windows Update for Business policies handle critical out-of-band releases, often appearing as a distractor where candidates mistakenly adjust feature update rings or deferral settings instead. A common trap is thinking you need to modify an existing policy, but the correct approach is to create a separate, targeted quality update ring with an immediate deadline to expedite installation. Memory tip: think “zero deadline, zero delay” for out-of-band urgency.
MD-102 Manage and maintain devices Practice Question
This MD-102 practice question tests your understanding of manage and maintain 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.
You are managing a fleet of Windows 10 devices with Microsoft Intune. You need to deploy a critical security update that Microsoft released out-of-band. The update must be installed on all devices within 24 hours. You have configured Windows Update for Business policies in Intune, but the update is not being installed on many devices. You check the update compliance reports and see that most devices are showing the update as 'pending'. What should you do to expedite the installation?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Create an update policy for Windows 10 and later using the 'Quality update' deployment ring and set the deadline to immediate.
Option D is correct because deploying an out-of-band security update with a deadline set to immediate overrides any deferral periods and forces the update to install within the specified deadline. In Intune, Windows Update for Business policies allow you to create a 'Quality update' deployment ring and set the deadline to immediate (0 days), which instructs Windows Update to download and install the update as soon as possible, bypassing normal deferral delays. This directly addresses the 'pending' status by enforcing a mandatory installation timeline.
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.
- ✗
Modify the existing Windows Update for Business policy to set the deferral period to 0 days.
Why it's wrong here
Deferral period controls how long to wait after release, but the update may still not be installed immediately if deadline is not set.
- ✗
Create a compliance policy that requires the update to be installed and assign it to all devices.
Why it's wrong here
Compliance policies do not install updates; they only check compliance status.
- ✗
Use Configuration Manager to push the update via on-premises WSUS.
Why it's wrong here
The environment is Intune-only; WSUS is not available.
- ✓
Create an update policy for Windows 10 and later using the 'Quality update' deployment ring and set the deadline to immediate.
Why this is correct
An update policy with immediate deadline forces the update installation.
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 confuse compliance policies with update enforcement, thinking that marking a device non-compliant will force an update, when in reality compliance policies only report status and require a separate update policy with a deadline to trigger installation.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Under the hood, Windows Update for Business policies in Intune use the Update Compliance service and the Windows Update client's deadline logic. When a deadline is set to immediate (0 days), the Windows Update client schedules the update for installation at the next available opportunity, ignoring deferral periods and active hours, and will reboot the device if required after the deadline passes. In real-world scenarios, if devices are in a 'pending' state due to deferral or scan schedules, setting a deadline with immediate enforcement triggers an immediate scan and installation attempt, reducing the 24-hour window risk.
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.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this MD-102 question test?
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: Create an update policy for Windows 10 and later using the 'Quality update' deployment ring and set the deadline to immediate. — Option D is correct because deploying an out-of-band security update with a deadline set to immediate overrides any deferral periods and forces the update to install within the specified deadline. In Intune, Windows Update for Business policies allow you to create a 'Quality update' deployment ring and set the deadline to immediate (0 days), which instructs Windows Update to download and install the update as soon as possible, bypassing normal deferral delays. This directly addresses the 'pending' status by enforcing a mandatory installation timeline.
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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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
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